Enthusiasts have spent years lamenting the disappearance of manual gearboxes from the supercar world, as manufacturers gradually switched to faster, more efficient automatics. Now, Ferrari has finally bucked the trend with the new Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale. And despite its Italian name, you don’t need to speak the language to know what “Manuale” means — this V12 grand tourer brings back the good old-fashioned six-speed manual gearbox. Well… sort of.
Yes, there is a real physical gated manual shifter there along with three pedals on the footwells. The system now pairs its eight-speed dual clutch gearbox and 830 hp and 678 Nm V12 with a dedicated architecture and entirely new components — allowing for manual gear changes while maintaining functional consistency with the powertrain.
In the manual gearbox mode, it uses the first six speeds of the transmission. But it does not have any real mechanical connections with the actual gearbox, with all shifting information sent to the gearbox via an updated vehicle control unit and new gearbox software. Essentially, it’s a Shift By-Wire system.
Ferrari calls this its “Manuale By-Wire system” — featuring the aforementioned six-speed manual-style gear lever with Ferrari’s iconic open-gate shifter. Although it is a by-wire system, the gear lever is fully mechanical in feel thanks to the use of precision-machined steel mechanism to mimic real gear engagement. To know if it is in manual or automatic mode, the gear knob features LEDs which light up in amber if it’s in manual mode, and white in automatic mode.
Along with the gear lever is a clutch-by-wire pedal that simulates clutch resistance and a bite point rather than mechanically operating a clutch. A drum-and-spring mechanism creates progressive pedal feedback for a more authentic feel, while sensors detect the driver’s inputs and translate them into electronic commands for the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Pressure applied to the pedal is detected, digitally converted, and sent to the shift by wire system to the dual-clutch gearbox control unit. This allows for behaviour that’s similar to a conventional manual gearbox. Shift with great timing, and shifting is smooth and precise. Give it less finesse, the gearbox will react with slight jolts, and screwing it up completely on a standstill will also stall the car. In automatic mode, the driver can also pre-select the gear via the lever, with a graphic display on the instrument cluster showing how the rev counter will react to the gear change.
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The Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale is designed by the Ferrari Design Studio under Flavio Manzoni. With only 1,499 units available worldwide, all units will be configured through Ferrari’s exclusive Tailor Made customisation program with specifications exclusive to the Manuale edition.
Cosmetic additions include laser-etched side badges and pinstriped front splitter and rear wings inspired by the Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona. The Tailor Made package also brings bespoke exterior colours, premium leather and Alcantara upholstery, and unique trim combinations.
It also receives forged alloy wheels available in four finishes, a special embossed Ferrari scudetto, and an optional heritage-inspired livery celebrating the six-speed gearbox. Other unique touches include Tailor Made plaques in silver or carbon fibre, Manuale-specific door sill trims, and a choice of Comfort or Racing seats featuring six vertical grooves as a nod to the six-speed manual.
Everything else remains largely unchanged. As before, it sprints from 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds before reaching a top speed of over 340 km/h. Being part of Ferrari’s Tailor Made programme, the 12Cilindri Manuale also commands a hefty premium, starting from EUR590,000 (approx. RM2.4 million) — significantly more than the standard 12Cilindri, which starts from EUR400,000 (approx. RM1.9 million).
So, does its kind-of manual gearbox justify the extra cost? While it isn’t a true manual transmission, it does mark Ferrari’s first return to a gated H-pattern shifter since the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano in 2012. Whether that’s enough to satisfy purists is up for debate, but it’s certainly an interesting attempt to bring the traditional manual experience into the modern era.
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