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Ferrari Returns Manual Shifter With By‑Wire 12Cilindri Manuale

A limited 1,499‑unit model converts traditional lever plus clutch inputs into electronic commands to recreate a gated‑manual feel while keeping the existing eight‑speed dual‑clutch transmission.

Overview

  • The 12Cilindri Manuale, which Ferrari unveiled Tuesday, pairs the brand’s 6.5‑litre naturally aspirated V12 rated at 830 PS and a 9,500 rpm redline with a manufacturer‑developed 'Manuale By‑Wire' shifter and clutch interface.
  • The by‑wire system reads movements of an aluminium lever and a clutch pedal, uses a rotating drum and preload mechanisms to reproduce detents and tactile feedback, and plays simulated mechanical noises to mimic an open gated shifter.
  • Behind the illusion the car still uses the standard eight‑speed dual‑clutch transmission; the Manuale channels driver inputs into electronic commands and keeps automatic eight‑gear operation available by button.
  • Safety and drivability are enforced by software that blocks unsafe shifts, manages coasting to simulate clutch behavior during deceleration, and can stall or produce a jerk if the driver misuses the clutch, according to Ferrari’s disclosures.
  • Ferrari will build 1,499 examples priced from at least €590,000, a move critics say monetizes heritage while prompting debate among purists over whether electronic mediation equals a true manual, and it follows wider industry experiments to recreate analogue feel with digital controls.