Hello everyone!
I set myself on a design challenge : a modern remake of Ferrari's 1984 Testarossa.
The car I made has nothing to do with the ferrari design team, this is a simple design exercise. Ferrari has the rights on the name Testarossa, I don't have the right to use it for my project... so it will be Testarosso.
We can unanimously say that the Testarossa has changed the history of automobile. With its bodywork designed by the brand's historic designer, Pininfarina, it broke all the stylistic codes of its time. Its wide rear is brought by drilled and profiled sides over their entire length which gives the profile incredible dynamic. Faithful to the concept that form creates function, Pininfarina thus supplies fresh air to the two side radiators of the large 12-cylinder flat engine, placed longitudinally in the rear center position.
Some initials sketches of the remake below :
So what would a remake of such legend involve? I start by first isolating its characteristic elements:
- Very wide vehicle: 1.97m wide and 1.135m high. Ratio of almost 2.
- Angular geometry, sharp edges (very important).
- V12 rear central engine, cooled by side openings.
- Flat engine cover.
- Large profiled blanks, aerodynamic elements.
- Large ventilation grid on the front, with headlights above.
- Large black strip at the rear of the vehicle, exhaust air from the engine.
- Groove in the side air intake strakes
- Retractable headlights
- Angular geometry, sharp edges (very important).
- V12 rear central engine, cooled by side openings.
- Flat engine cover.
- Large profiled blanks, aerodynamic elements.
- Large ventilation grid on the front, with headlights above.
- Large black strip at the rear of the vehicle, exhaust air from the engine.
- Groove in the side air intake strakes
- Retractable headlights
The grooves and retractable headlights are typical of the 80s, but unfortunately are no longer fashion. I decided to remove them for my project. A modern car would also have wider rims, a higher finishing and more refined aerodynamics. The challenge of a remake is to keep the spirit of the original car, while modernizing the lines : a delicate work.
Making a remake also means implementing design elements specific to the brand's identity. Take the example of the rear lights. The lights of the Testarossa are rectangular, but the lights of the latest cars are almost all in circles. To modernize the model through the new stylistic codes of the prancing horse, it therefore makes sense to opt for round lights.
Here is a drawing I made of the final version, with promarker & color pencils.
Coffee/ cream color is not usual for a car, I thought it was an elegant touch.
Another notable trait : all models of the brand have a diffuser. The diffuser is the area below the rear bumper. It is an aerodynamic device born in the 1990s intended, like a spoiler, to reduce lift and therefore increase the support exerted on an auto. This technology did not exist at the time of Testarossa, so I have to add one to the modern version.
I adopted for these renderings a two-tone paint. Work was done on lightings and materials.
Regarding the headlights, the trend for Ferrari is now long headlights, stretched backwards. Like the the 488 Pista, the hood is also used as an aerodynamic element.
LED lines frame the wide rear grille, while round headlights complete the back.
The mesh is clean, the interior and the mechanical parts are modeled.
The air flow is studied here. A first flow enters through the side openings of the front bumper, cools the front brakes and then opens out into the side curved area. By passing here the air flow sticks the car to the ground, so a rear spoiler is not necessary (That was the principle of the first testarossa).
A second flow of air enters through the side openings, passes through the radiator and exits through the rear of the car.
I also designed the rims of the car, keeping classic 5 branches.
Here are some other renderings with darker lighting :
I intend here to keep retro lines...yes I love 80's cars.
Next step: painting. I used the substance painter software to make the car look like a race car. I started with a very Italian color, added some sponsors, and then some wear marks on the body.
I hope you enjoyed it ! Feel free to leave a comment.
BONUS : I also did a cyberpunk version of the vehicle, link here.
If you are looking for a vehicle for a movie/short film/video game, this model is for you. My designs are royalty free, that means you can use it in any support and I wont sue you for this.
