Created by Daniela Ezequiel at Thursday, 9 July 2026

Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale welcomes the manual gearbox back

Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale Ferrari manual gearbox by-wire technology supercars

Ferrari has once again stirred the imagination of driving enthusiasts. The new Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale brings back one of the most emotional elements in the brand’s history: the feeling of driving a Ferrari with a manual gearbox, H-pattern gate, and three pedals.

But there is one important detail here. This is not a traditional manual. The Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale keeps the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, but introduces a Manuale by-wire system that simulates the experience of a classic manual gearbox. In other words, there is a gear lever, there is a clutch pedal, and there is real interaction with the driver, but everything is interpreted electronically through sensors, software, and actuators.

The result is a modern Ferrari with gestures from another era. And that is precisely where the charm of this model lies.

A manual that lives between nostalgia and technology

For years, many Ferrari customers and enthusiasts asked for the return of the manual gearbox. The Italian brand has now responded with an unconventional solution, but one very much in line with the current evolution of the automobile.

In the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale, the gear lever has no direct mechanical connection to the gearbox. The same applies to the clutch pedal. Even so, Ferrari worked on the system to recreate the feel, resistance, and physical sensation of a classic manual gearbox.

The metal H-pattern gate is present on the centre console, just like the third pedal on the floor. In manual mode, the driver can select six gears and reverse. The top two gears of the eight-speed gearbox are reserved for automatic operation.

The big difference lies in the way everything happens. The lever and pedal send electronic information to the system, which interprets the driver’s movements and acts on the dual-clutch transmission. Ferrari has therefore sought to maintain the efficiency of a modern transmission without giving up the emotional component associated with manual driving.

And it is not just a visual simulation. The system was calibrated to require real coordination. If the driver misses the clutch bite point or makes an incorrect gear change, the car may jolt or even stall. It is also possible to press the clutch while driving and let the car roll in neutral.

Even so, there are safety limits. The system prevents downshifts that could damage the engine or the transmission. If the chosen gear is not compatible with the car’s speed, the lever itself blocks that selection.

The V12 remains the heart of this Ferrari

Under the bonnet, the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale keeps the naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine, one of the great protagonists of this model. The unit produces 830 hp at 9,250 rpm and 678 Nm of maximum torque, and can reach 9,500 rpm.

Performance remains at the level expected of a Ferrari with a 12-cylinder engine. Top speed exceeds 340 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is completed in around 3 seconds.

In other words, despite the classic inspiration in the driving position, this is still a current supercar, extremely fast and technologically advanced.

Inside, the absence of the traditional paddles behind the steering wheel is one of the most symbolic changes. The centre console was redesigned to receive the six-speed gate, integrated into an anodised aluminium piece. The spherical gear knob also includes a small backlit screen indicating the engaged gear and the active driving mode.

On the outside, the differences compared with the conventional Ferrari 12Cilindri are discreet, but carefully thought out. The model receives the Manuale logo engraved on the air intakes of the front wings, new five-spoke forged wheels, and specific personalisation elements through the Tailor Made programme.

Production will be limited to 1,499 units, a number that pays tribute to the displacement of Ferrari’s first V12, launched in 1947. The edition will be available only with coupé bodywork and is expected to cost around 590 thousand euros in Europe before options.

More than a technical exercise, the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale is an emotional response. It does not bring back the mechanical manual gearbox in its traditional form, but it recovers what many drivers associate with that experience: involvement, coordination, and the feeling of being part of the machine.

It is a manual Ferrari without being truly manual. It may sound like a contradiction, but it also shows how technology can be used to preserve emotions that seemed to be disappearing.