Ferrari 512TR : Review

Here’s our Ferrari 512TR Review: By the start of the 1990s, Lamborghini had moved ahead in the pin-up performance wars with its replacement for the legendary Countach – the Diablo. Ferrari’s response was to give the Testarossa a thorough update for 1992. And a new name.

The 512 TR was Ferrari’s evolution of the legendary Testarossa, but it was more than just a facelift. It featured a 4.9L flat-12 pumping out 428 hp, delivering a much sharper and more responsive drive than its predecessor. That iconic gated shifter, nestled in the middle of the tan-leather cockpit, clicks through gears like you’re really piloting something purely mechanical.

This was from an era before traction control and driver aids, when Ferrari trusted the driver. The noise is beautiful, and the road presence is absolutely off the charts.

Driving the 512 TR today reminds you just how far we’ve come in the motoring world, and just how much we’ve lost along the way.

Lets have a closer look.

The Testarossa was one of Ferrari’s most successful models and in 1992 it received major revisions that made it even better and it was renamed the 512TR. The fuel injection was changed from Bosch CIS to Motronic, the valves enlarged, and the compression ratio increased. The exhaust system was also redesigned and the engine gained approximately 50hp along with a broader power curve while also becoming dramatically more responsive and sounding much better. The suspension was also revised, the steering ratio quickened, and lower profile tires fitted to go with new 18 inch wheels, an increase of two inches. The brakes were also enlarged and fitted with cross drilled rotors.

The Drive:

When you first press that accelerator, the flat-12 behind you unleashes a deep roar that you can feel through your chest, instantly transporting you back to an era of unfiltered motoring. The footwell is so cramped, between the left wheel arch and a foot rest, the pedals are completely offset, making it difficult to drive if you’ve got feet larger than size 6.

The cabin is like a luxury retreat; the scent of leather, aged to perfection over decades of Italian craftsmanship, mixes with the smell of engine oil and adrenaline.

The gated dog-leg manual is heavy but precise, you get a proper tactile click when you select a gear that’s incredibly satisfying.

Being inside the 512 TR is like stepping into a time capsule. The analog instrumentation, the rich, clicky, analog feedback from every control and the sound of the engine all combine to create this really nostalgic experience.

Performance & Powertrain:

  • Engine: 4.9-litre naturally aspirated flat-12
  • Power Output: 428 hp @ 6,750 rpm
  • Torque: 491 Nm (362 lb-ft)
  • 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph): 4.8 seconds
  • Top Speed: 313 km/h (194 mph)
  • Transmission: 5-speed dog-leg gated manual
  • Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive

Chassis & Handling:

  • Revised suspension geometry and stiffer springs
  • Improved steering feedback over the original Testarossa
  • Still wide and dramatic

The 512TR ended up being slower than the Diablo in the end, but it was quicker than Honda’s NSX, which kept Ferrari happy for a while.

Verdict:

In a world full of classic Ferraris, the 512 TR offers that perfect balance of rarity, performance, and presence. It’s a car that really makes a strong case for being one of the most underrated V12 Ferraris ever built.

With the low mileage and timeless spec on the example that we tested, it’s both a useable and investible vehicle today.

We were able to experience the 512 TR for ourselves – courtesy of johnpmohan.com

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