In 1984, Ferrari challenged the market with the Testarossa, heir of the 512 BB: a bold design (initially judged by some as too impudent and unsuited to the importance of the marque) and a historical name for an undisputed icon of style that lived between two decades (until 1996) thanks to significant aesthetic and mechanical facelifts.
In 1992 (production started in 1991) the Ferrari 512TR was unveiled (needless to say, TR stands for Testarossa.) It seemed impossible to perfect a model that was already a cult; and yet with this masterful restyling Ferrari’s project peaked with an impeccable balance between the (basically unchanged) design of its predecessor and the technical innovation of the following 512 M—the latter deprived the Testarossa of much of its charm, what with the introduction of two fixed square units to replace the pop-up lights, and those hideous (don’t blame me) round rear lights.
The Ferrari 512TR had a new front bumper, more sinuous and modern-looking—with lights resembling the 348 TB’s—and two-toned rear lights with a more linear and aggressive appearance.
In the interior, the seats were improved and the overall space increased, for a roominess worthy of a GT.
The car body rested on new 18″ star-shaped rims.
However, the TR’s most substantial improvement was not in plain sight: the steel backbone chassis was stiffened to the benefit of drivability, and the engine, mounted in a lower position for a better weight distribution, produced 428 hp at 6750 rpm for a top speed of 314 km/h.
The result was a brand new car, rather than a mere facelift: more comfortable, more reliable, easier to drive, more powerful and elegant than the previous Testarossa.