Miami Vice Swaps Daytona for White Testarossa
Universal's revival of the 1980s series replaces the black Ferrari Daytona Spyder with a white Ferrari Testarossa after a trademark dispute.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Performance Vehicles
The Miami Vice '85 film features a white Ferrari Testarossa instead of the black Ferrari Daytona Spyder driven by Sonny Crockett in the original series. The change follows a settlement of Ferrari's trademark lawsuit against the Daytona replica builder and the TV show producers.
Why it matters
The switch lets Universal avoid another legal dispute over the Ferrari brand, and it shows how automakers use trademark enforcement to protect their vehicles' identities on screen.
The original show's Daytona Spyder was a replica built on a Corvette C3 chassis, while Ferrari donated two authentic Testarossas to the production under the settlement. The stub does not report the financial value of the donation or the settlement.
The players
Ferrari
Italian luxury automaker known for high-performance sports cars, which brought the trademark suit over the Daytona replica.
Universal
Major American film studio producing the Miami Vice '85 feature film.
The details
Ferrari North America declined to supply an authentic Daytona model, prompting the company to sue the show and McBurnie Coachcraft over trademark infringement and brand dilution. The dispute was settled with Ferrari donating two Testarossas on the condition that the fake Daytona be destroyed on national television, and the Daytona Spyder was blown up by a Stinger missile in the Season 3 premiere.
Timeline
Season 3 premiere of the original series, when the Daytona Spyder was destroyed by a Stinger missile.
Season 3, second episode, when the Miami-Dade Police Department supplied Crockett a white Testarossa.
After hurricane season, when Miami Vice '85 production shifts to Miami.
May 19, 2028, the scheduled theatrical release of Miami Vice '85, including IMAX screenings.
Roadmap
The Miami Vice '85 vehicle swap extends Ferrari's earlier trademark fight over the Daytona replica that appeared in the 1980s series. The settlement shows how automakers now negotiate on-screen vehicle appearances as part of brand protection.
Moviegoers who want to see the film in IMAX can plan for the May 19, 2028 theatrical opening. Car enthusiasts who recognize the original Daytona Spyder should note that the film now features a white Testarossa.
The takeaway
Automakers increasingly enforce trademark rights over the appearance of their vehicles in film and television, and settlements can turn those disputes into product placements. Readers who follow car culture on screen should watch how studios balance nostalgia against brand control.
What happens next
Miami Vice '85 opens in theaters, including IMAX, on May 19, 2028, and production shifts to Miami after hurricane season.
Further reading
For more on high-performance car coverage, explore our Performance Vehicles section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by IGN.
