From the March 1992 issue of Car and Driver.

The current Testarossa represents no complete overhaul, yet Ferrari refined the model across so many areas that it feels substantially renewed. During this work the team in Maranello also made the car more attractive than before and introduced a fresh designation: the 512TR.

Roughly 4000 exotic cars leave the Ferrari plant each year. The facility stands as a model of focused manufacturing excellence, complete with its own foundry for both road and racing engines, an advanced paint operation, and orderly final assembly lines.

"We purchase only premium equipment," manufacturing director Walter Vignale explained while noting space prepared for new Japanese machine tools. Vignale stressed that the company replaces equipment not only when worn but whenever superior options appear, all in pursuit of cars that deliver strong performance and lasting dependability.

Take the 512TR. Development effort and cost invested in this update, first shown in Paris in 1984, exceed what many smaller makers spend on their full lineup. The result is an approximately $200,000 automobile that can seem worthwhile to those who regard a Ferrari as rolling art. Production for 1992 totals around 1300 cars, of which 250-300 are allocated to North America.

Ferrari targeted higher engine output with lower NOx emissions, added engine-management and diagnostic systems to satisfy Swiss and California rules, and improved aerodynamics, handling, safety, braking, and cockpit ergonomics, especially the gear lever. The results rate highly in nearly every category except the shifter, which enthusiasts accept as part of the Ferrari character while others find it tiring.

Once settled into the supportive leather seat, adjustable for drivers of average height, occupants often feel a surge of excitement that accompanies Ferrari driving, heightened by rich Connolly leather aromas and the knowledge that many would trade places instantly.

Turning the key brings the engine to life with a more authentic Ferrari sound than the prior model. The revised exhaust note ensures that anyone nearby enjoys the passing presence of a 512TR.

Power comes from the flat-twelve engine whose red valve covers give the model its name. Displacement stays at 4943 cc, yet output rises to 421 horsepower at 6750 rpm thanks to more than two dozen changes, including a new intake tract, Bosch Motronic management, raised compression, revised pistons, Nikasil liners, larger intake valves, and an updated exhaust.

The torque curve is flatter near peak, with 360 pound-feet available at 5500 rpm and power holding steady near 420 horsepower from 6250 to 7250 rpm. Ferrari lists a 0-to-62-mph time of 4.8 seconds and a top speed of 192 mph. The engine can sustain 7250 rpm all day, just below redline.

The five-speed gearbox keeps its familiar gated layout and firmness yet moves more readily because of ball-bearing shift rods and a revised lever angle. A lighter single-plate clutch further eases gear changes.

Four-wheel ventilated discs now feature cross-drilling, larger front rotors, improved cooling ducts, and a new proportioning valve, delivering powerful, progressive stops.

Handling, already excellent, gains from quicker steering, eighteen-inch wheels, lower-profile tires, revised dampers, and reduced unsprung weight. The visual stance appears lower after black rocker paint was removed.

The cabin features simpler upholstery patterns and clearer instrument placement. The center console has been eliminated, climate controls are easier to use, and the air-conditioning system offers greater capacity.

Externally, every Pininfarina change improves the car. The front air dam integrates more cleanly, the one-piece rear bumper wraps the exhaust outlets neatly, new five-spoke wheels look lighter, and the engine cover plus buttress vents have been refined. The overall effect elevates an already strong design.

Driving the 512TR at the Maranello test track, Mugello circuit, and connecting roads showed generous rewards on both pavement and track. A full instrumented evaluation will appear later, but early impressions can be summarized in one word: impressive.

Specifications

1992 Ferrari 512TR
Vehicle Type: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door coupe

PRICE
Base/As Tested: $212,160/$212,160

ENGINE
DOHC 48-valve flat 12, aluminum block and heads, port fuel injection
Displacement: 302 in³, 4943 cm³
Power: 421 hp @ 6750 rpm
Torque: 360 lb-ft @ 5500 rpm

TRANSMISSION
5-speed manual

CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: control arms/control arms
Brakes, F/R: 12.4-in vented disc/12.2-in vented disc
Tires: Pirelli P Zero
F: 235/40ZR-18
R: 295/35ZR-18

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 100.4 in
Length: 176.4 in
Width: 77.8 in
Height: 44.7 in
Passenger Volume: 47 ft³
Cargo Volume: 5 ft³
Curb Weight: 3650 lb

MANUFACTURER'S PERFORMANCE RATINGS
62 mph: 4.8 sec
1/4-Mile: 12.8 sec
Top Speed: 192 mph