The Ferrari Mythos is a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive concept car based on the mechanical underpinnings of the Ferrari Testarossa. Designed by Pininfarina and developed with Ferrari, it made its world premiere at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show.
Ferrari Mythos at a glance
| Premiere | 1989 Tokyo Motor Show |
|---|---|
| Designer | Pininfarina |
| Basis | Ferrari Testarossa |
| Engine | 4.9 L Tipo F113 B flat-12 |
| Power | 390 hp (291 kW; 395 PS) at 6,300 rpm |
| Torque | 354 N·m at 4,500 rpm |
| Power-to-weight | 308 hp per tonne |
| Transmission | Testarossa five-speed manual |
| Suspension | helical coil springs, transverse arms front and rear |
| Projected top speed | about 290 km/h |
| Stored | Pininfarina style centre, Cambiano |
| Influence | design evolved into the Ferrari F50 |
based on one source (English Wikipedia).
History of the Ferrari Mythos
The design was implemented on the platform of the Ferrari Testarossa, which dictated the car’s wedge shape and the large air intake ahead of the rear wheels. The Mythos is powered by a 4.9-litre Tipo F113 B flat-12 engine sourced from the Testarossa, producing 390 hp at 6,300 rpm and 354 N·m of torque at 4,500 rpm, with a power-to-weight ratio of 308 hp per tonne. Drive goes to the rear wheels through a Testarossa-sourced five-speed manual transmission.
Chassis and performance
The car uses a helical coil suspension system with transverse arms at both the front and the rear. Acceleration figures were never published, but the projected top speed was around 290 km/h. The show car is stored at the Pininfarina style centre at Cambiano in Italy.
From concept to F50
The design of the Mythos later evolved into the Ferrari F40’s successor, the F50, which took the same mid-engined wedge formula into production in 1995. That makes the Mythos more than a show car: it is the styling bridge between the Testarossa generation and Ferrari’s 1990s anniversary supercar.
Cars built
Although the Mythos was not intended to be sold to the public, the brother of the then Sultan of Brunei, Prince Jefri Bolkiah, is known to have commissioned three, one red, one blue for Prince Hakeem and one black, the last of which was not verified until late 2024. The Mythos was also prominently featured in the 1990 racing video game Test Drive III.
Design and features
- Testarossa underneath: the same flat-12 engine, gearbox and platform as the production car.
- Pininfarina body: a wedge shape with a large intake ahead of the rear wheels.
- 390 hp: from a 4.9-litre Tipo F113 B engine and a five-speed manual.
- Design bridge: its lines evolved into the F50 of 1995.
- Three customer cars: built for the Brunei royal family, plus the show car.
Ferrari Mythos versions
- Show car (1989): the Tokyo Motor Show concept, kept at Cambiano.
- Customer cars: three built for the Brunei royal family, in red, blue and black.
The Mythos was based on the Ferrari Testarossa and its design led to the Ferrari F50.
Video: Ferrari Mythos Rai Uno
Video by bvos1234 on YouTube.
Sources
- Ferrari Mythos, English Wikipedia: design, engine, performance, production
