New Ferrari Gets A Manual Gearbox, But It’s Not Exactly What You Think
For years, Ferrari fans have hoped the Italian automaker would bring back the manual transmission. While the Italian carmaker insisted that dual-clutch gearboxes were faster and more efficient, enthusiasts never stopped dreaming of rowing their own gears in a front-engined V12 grand tourer. Now, Ferrari has finally listened.
Meet the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale, a limited-run special edition that revives the joy of shifting gears yourself while using some seriously clever modern technology. It isn’t simply an old-school manual bolted onto a new car either. Ferrari has engineered an entirely new “Manuale By-Wire” system that promises all the engagement of a traditional stick shift while retaining the intelligence and capability of its lightning-fast dual-clutch transmission.
For anyone who thought the manual Ferrari was gone forever, this is a huge moment. But, let’s take a closer look.
Ferrari Reimagines The Manual Transmission For The Modern Era
Instead of dusting off an old six-speed gearbox, Ferrari started from scratch. The heart of the 12Cilindri Manuale is an all-new Manuale By-Wire system developed entirely in-house at Maranello. It combines a physical gear lever, a proper clutch pedal, and sophisticated electronics to recreate the mechanical sensations of a traditional manual transmission. The setup even includes the iconic open metal shift gate Ferrari manuals became famous for, complete with mechanical clicks and resistance engineered to mimic the feel of classic Ferrari gearboxes. Every shift has been carefully calibrated to deliver authentic feedback through the lever, while the clutch pedal recreates the weight and progression enthusiasts expect from a genuine manual.
Unlike a traditional manual gearbox, however, this system works alongside Ferrari’s proven eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Drivers can manually shift through the first six gears using the lever and clutch, or simply switch into automatic mode whenever they want the convenience of letting the car do the work.
Ferrari says the system even allows drivers to perform heel-and-toe downshifts, while incorrect clutch operation can still result in jerky shifts or even stall the engine, making the experience feel remarkably authentic instead of artificially perfect.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is what Ferrari removed.
For the first time in years, there are no steering-wheel shift paddles. Ferrari wanted drivers to focus entirely on the gear lever and clutch, putting physical interaction back at the center of the driving experience.
A Screaming Naturally Aspirated V12 Makes It Even Better
If there was ever an engine worthy of a manual gearbox, this is it. The Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale keeps the standard car’s glorious naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12, producing 830 horsepower and revving all the way to an incredible 9,500 rpm. Ferrari claims the engine’s linear power delivery and soaring rev range make it the perfect companion for manual shifting, allowing drivers to fully enjoy every gear.
Performance remains seriously impressive too. The V12-powered grand tourer still rockets from 0-62 mph in around 3.0 seconds and can exceed 211 mph, putting it among the fastest front-engined GT cars on the planet despite prioritizing driver involvement over outright lap times.
Visually, Ferrari has given the Manuale subtle but meaningful upgrades, including a laser-etched side badge, unique forged five-spoke wheels, a redesigned center console built around the exposed shift gate, and special Tailor Made interior trims. The launch car wears a gorgeous Rosso Rubino finish, while buyers can choose from 25 historic Ferrari colors.
Production will also be strictly limited to just 1,499 examples, a number that pays tribute to the displacement of Ferrari’s very first V12 engine introduced back in 1947.
HotCars Take
We’re genuinely excited that Ferrari has acknowledged what enthusiasts have been asking for, but we’re not completely sold on this. A manual Ferrari should be mechanical, raw, and beautifully simple. Instead, the 12Cilindri Manuale uses a clutch-by-wire pedal and an electronic shift system sitting on top of an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. It might recreate the sensation of a manual incredibly well, but it’s still simulating an experience rather than delivering the real thing. Purists will inevitably wonder whether Ferrari has built a true manual or simply the world’s most sophisticated imitation. We’d have loved to see Ferrari go all-in with a proper gated six-speed gearbox, even if it meant sacrificing a few tenths in acceleration. Sometimes the imperfections are exactly what make a manual Ferrari so special. That said, if this is the closest Ferrari can get while keeping its modern performance standards intact, it’s certainly a step in the right direction—and hopefully not the last.
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