Ferrari has answered one of the longest-running requests from its customers by introducing the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale, a limited-production grand tourer that brings the brand’s famous gated shifter back to a road car for the first time since 2012.
Only 1,499 cars will be built, each powered by Ferrari’s naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12 producing 819 horsepower. Prices start at 590,000 euros, or about $675,000, before taxes and local fees.
At first glance, the cabin looks like it belongs to one of Ferrari’s classic manual cars. A polished aluminum shift gate sits beside a clutch pedal, inviting drivers to move through a traditional H-pattern. Underneath that familiar layout, however, the engineering follows a very different path.
Ferrari Brings Back the Gated Shifter
The open-metal shift gate became one of Ferrari’s defining features long before paddle shifters took over the supercar world.
That chapter closed in 2012, when production ended for the 599 GTB Fiorano, the company’s last road car fitted with a traditional manual transmission. Every Ferrari introduced afterward relied on dual-clutch gearboxes, delivering faster gear changes but leaving the gated shifter behind.
The 12Cilindri Manuale brings that design back, although the mechanism no longer works like the manual transmissions Ferrari enthusiasts remember.
Drivers still move the gear lever through exposed aluminum gates and operate a clutch pedal, but neither component is mechanically linked to the transmission.
Manuale by Wire Recreates the Manual Experience
Ferrari developed a new electronic control system called Manuale by Wire instead of designing a conventional manual gearbox.
Every movement of the gear lever is measured electronically before instructions are sent to the rear-mounted eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The clutch pedal also relies on electronic sensors that monitor pedal travel and determine how the transmission responds.
There is no clutch disc connecting and disconnecting engine power in the traditional sense. Instead, software recreates the timing and feel of manual gear changes while allowing the dual-clutch transmission to execute each shift.
Ferrari says the objective was not to imitate an old gearbox mechanically but to reproduce the interaction that drivers enjoyed in its earlier V-12 grand tourers.
Familiar Sounds, Different Engineering
The gear lever moves through a conventional H-pattern, complete with the metallic click that became a signature of Ferrari’s gated transmissions.
Engineers calibrated the resistance of each shift to resemble the movement of a mechanical linkage. Reverse sits to the far left of the shift gate, while the first six forward gears follow the traditional manual layout.
Although the gear lever feels mechanical in operation, every shift is interpreted electronically before the transmission selects the requested gear.
The system operates through the first six ratios of the eight-speed transmission. Drivers leave Manuale mode whenever the remaining gears are required, as the car does not use steering-wheel shift paddles.
Years of Customer Feedback Led to the Project
Ferrari says the idea did not begin inside its engineering department.
Owners repeatedly asked the company to bring back the involvement of a manual transmission, even as modern dual-clutch gearboxes became quicker and more efficient.
Rather than reversing decades of transmission development, Ferrari focused on the parts drivers interact with most. Engineers spent years developing the shift mechanism, clutch pedal calibration and software needed to recreate the rhythm of a manual gearbox without sacrificing the speed and durability of the existing transmission.
The result is neither a conventional manual nor a standard automatic. It is a new interpretation of one of Ferrari’s most recognizable driving experiences.
Naturally Aspirated V-12 Remains Unchanged
While the transmission has taken center stage, Ferrari left the engine untouched.
The Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale is powered by the same 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V-12 found in the standard 12Cilindri. The engine produces 819 horsepower and revs to 9,500 rpm, making it one of the highest-revving road-going V-12 engines Ferrari has ever built.
Power continues to flow to the rear wheels through Ferrari’s eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The difference lies in how drivers interact with it.
Instead of selecting gears with steering-wheel paddles, drivers use the gated shifter and clutch pedal, creating an experience that closely resembles a traditional manual transmission without replacing the existing gearbox.
Clutch Pedal Plays an Active Role
The clutch pedal is not simply there for appearance.
Ferrari engineered the pedal with electronic position sensors that monitor every movement made by the driver. Pressing the clutch changes how the transmission responds, allowing the driver to engage Manuale mode before selecting the next gear through the shift gate.
The company says pedal travel and clutch engagement were calibrated to feel familiar to drivers who have experience with manual transmissions. Engineers focused on pedal resistance, engagement point and release characteristics so the interaction feels natural instead of artificial.
Unlike a conventional manual gearbox, the clutch pedal communicates electronically with the transmission rather than operating through hydraulic or mechanical linkages.
Yes, It Can Stall
Ferrari didn’t remove one of the characteristics that defines a manual transmission.
According to the company, drivers can stall the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale if they release the clutch incorrectly from a standstill. That behavior was intentionally programmed into the system instead of being eliminated through software.
The same applies during aggressive launches. Drivers can raise engine speed before releasing the clutch, much like a conventional manual sports car. A smooth launch depends on throttle control and clutch timing, while mistakes will affect acceleration.
Ferrari says experienced drivers should see performance figures close to those achieved by the standard dual-clutch version. Incorrect clutch operation, however, will produce slower acceleration, just as it would in a traditional manual car.
Shift Pattern Uses Six Forward Gears
Manuale mode operates through the first six forward gears arranged in a traditional H-pattern.
Reverse occupies the far-left position, matching the layout found in Ferrari’s earlier gated manual transmissions.
The remaining transmission ratios are managed outside Manuale mode. Ferrari removed the steering-wheel shift paddles from this model, leaving the gated shifter as the primary method of changing gears while Manuale mode is active.
That decision reinforces the car’s focus on driver interaction rather than outright shift speed.
Manuale Adds Only 11 Pounds
Despite the new hardware, Ferrari says the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale gains very little weight.
The complete Manuale by Wire system, including the gated shifter, clutch pedal, electronic controls and related components, increases vehicle weight by approximately 11 pounds compared with the standard 12Cilindri.
Keeping the weight increase to a minimum allowed Ferrari to preserve the balance and performance characteristics of the V-12 grand tourer without requiring major chassis revisions.
Ferrari Focused on Driver Involvement
The Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale was not developed to produce faster lap times than the standard model.
Ferrari’s objective was to restore the physical interaction that disappeared when the company moved entirely to paddle-shift transmissions. Every movement of the clutch pedal, every shift through the aluminum gate and every gear selection asks the driver to take part in the process instead of relying on automatic gear changes.
The result is a driving experience that combines classic Ferrari design cues with modern transmission technology, creating a model unlike any other currently offered in the company’s road-car lineup.
Ferrari Limits Production to 1,499 Cars
Ferrari will build 1,499 examples of the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale, making it one of the most exclusive front-engine V-12 models in the company’s current lineup.
The car carries a starting price of 590,000 euros, or approximately $675,000 at current exchange rates before taxes and market-specific charges.
Production numbers remain well below those of Ferrari’s regular series-production models, reflecting the company’s strategy of limiting availability for special editions and low-volume V-12 cars.
Ferrari has not announced whether the Manuale by Wire system will appear in future models or remain exclusive to the 12Cilindri Manuale.
Deliveries Will Begin After Standard 12Cilindri Production
Customer deliveries will begin after Ferrari completes the initial rollout of the standard 12Cilindri.
The company has not released a production schedule by market or confirmed how the 1,499 cars will be allocated globally.
Interest is expected to be strong among existing Ferrari owners, particularly collectors looking for a modern V-12 grand tourer that brings back one of the brand’s best-known interior features.
The Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale also becomes the first Ferrari road car since the 599 GTB Fiorano to feature a gated shifter, even though gear selection is managed electronically rather than through a conventional manual gearbox.
FAQs
What is the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale?
The Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale is a limited-production V-12 grand tourer that combines a gated shifter and clutch pedal with Ferrari’s Manuale by Wire electronic shifting system.
Does the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale have a real manual transmission?
No. The car uses an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. The gated shifter and clutch pedal communicate electronically with the gearbox through Ferrari’s Manuale by Wire system.
Why did Ferrari bring back the gated shifter?
Ferrari says the project was developed in response to repeated requests from customers who wanted a more engaging driving experience while keeping the performance of the dual-clutch transmission.
How much power does the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale produce?
The naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12 produces 819 horsepower and revs to 9,500 rpm.
How many Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale cars will be built?
Ferrari has confirmed production will be limited to 1,499 units worldwide.
What is the starting price?
The Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale starts at 590,000 euros, which is approximately $675,000 before taxes and local fees.
Can the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale stall?
Yes. Ferrari programmed the Manuale by Wire system to allow the engine to stall if the clutch is released incorrectly from a standstill, replicating the behavior of a conventional manual transmission.
Is the gated shifter mechanically connected to the transmission?
No. Gear selections are interpreted electronically before commands are sent to the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
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