Maranello: Ferrari has unveiled the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale, a limited-edition special series of the 12Cilindri that introduces a new in-house-developed Manuale By-Wire system designed to recreate the feel of a traditional manual gearbox while retaining the advantages of Ferrari’s eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Limited to 1,499 units, the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale pairs the brand’s naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine with a new manual command architecture featuring a gear lever and a clutch-by-wire pedal. The system allows the car to be driven in manual mode in the first six gears and reverse, while also offering an automatic mode for drivers who may want their grand tourer to occasionally behave like, well, a grand tourer.
The new system has been engineered entirely at Maranello and is intended to give drivers a more physical, analogue connection with the car. Ferrari says the Manuale By-Wire system translates the movement of a manual gear change into electronic signals while preserving the load, feedback and natural feel associated with a traditional manual transmission.
Under the bonnet, the 12Cilindri Manuale retains the naturally aspirated V12 from the Ferrari 12Cilindri. The 6.5-litre engine produces 830 cv and revs up to 9,500 rpm. Ferrari says the standard 12Cilindri can exceed 340 km/h and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 3.0 seconds.
The most significant change is not in the engine or the gearbox itself, but in the way the driver interacts with them. The Manuale By-Wire system combines Ferrari’s eight-speed DCT with a redesigned interface that includes a mechanical-feeling gear lever, a control panel and a new pedal assembly with a clutch-by-wire pedal.
Ferrari says the system has been designed to reproduce the mechanical loads and sensations of its classic manual gearboxes during synchronisation, engagement and disengagement. The gear lever uses sensors and advanced kinematic mechanisms to create clicks and load variations, giving the driver clear feedback when selecting gears.
If the clutch is not pressed, or if an unauthorised gear is selected, the system can mechanically inhibit engagement. When the lock is not active, the mechanism is free to move, allowing the gear lever to behave like a traditional manual selector. The compact module is machined from solid blocks and weighs less than 3.5 kg.
The clutch-by-wire pedal is designed to act as a high-precision link between the driver and the powertrain. A position sensor detects pedal movement and translates it into hydraulic actuation of the DCT clutch, coordinating the engine and transmission during shifts.
Ferrari says the pedal recreates the load-travel curve of a mechanically linked manual gearbox through a passive mechanical system. Correct timing results in a smooth and precise gear change; incorrect timing can make the shift more difficult, produce a jerk or even stall the engine. In other words, the car has not forgotten the old manual gearbox’s favourite lesson: skill still matters.
The system also supports heel-and-toe-style manoeuvres and includes dedicated logic for switching between manual and automatic modes. Ferrari has removed the steering wheel paddles for the 12Cilindri Manuale, a move intended to place the focus firmly on the gear lever, clutch pedal and driver inputs.
Inside, the cabin has been redesigned around the manual interface. The centre tunnel console, gear lever, knob, gear shift gate and pedals reinterpret the classic elements of Ferrari’s lever-operated manual cars in a contemporary form. The gear shift gate follows a six-speed pattern, with reverse positioned at the top left.
The round aluminium gear knob features a backlit screen print showing the six gears and the active driving mode. The centre tunnel has also been reworked to improve ergonomics in both manual and automatic driving. A steel plate and anodised aluminium sculpture, shaped like a tuning fork, integrate the control panel and key housing.
Ferrari says the design of the 12Cilindri Manuale draws heavily from its Tailor Made personalisation programme. The limited-run model receives dedicated details including a laser-etched side badge, pinstripe finish on the front splitter and rear wings as a tribute to the Ferrari 365 GTB4, a special scudetto finish, five-spoke forged wheels and aluminium door sills engraved with the car’s logo.
The car has been designed by the Ferrari Design Studio under the direction of Flavio Manzoni. Buyers will be able to choose from 25 iconic Ferrari colours, including Rosso Rubino for the launch edition, along with heritage-inspired shades such as Argento Nürburgring, Nero Daytona, Rubino Micalizzato, Rosso Dino, Giallo Montecarlo, Verde Zeltweg, Azzurro La Plata, Blu Pozzi, Bianco Mille Miglia and Viola Hong Kong.
The Tailor Made specification also includes dedicated leather and Alcantara interiors, exclusive trims and colours, and seats available in Comfort and Racing versions. The seats feature six vertical grooves, a design detail that references the car’s six manual gears.
Ferrari says the 1,499-unit production number is a reference to the displacement of the first Ferrari twelve-cylinder engine produced in 1947. The model is aimed at Ferraristi who remain loyal to front-engined V12 two-seater berlinettas and want a more physical driving experience.
The Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale will also be covered by Ferrari’s seven-year extended service programme. The Genuine Maintenance programme covers routine maintenance for the first seven years of the car’s life, with scheduled inspections every 20,000 km or once a year, with no mileage limit.
Routine maintenance is carried out using genuine spare parts and diagnostic tools by personnel trained at the Ferrari Training Centre in Maranello. The programme is available across Ferrari’s official dealership network and applies to the brand’s full range.
The 12Cilindri Manuale arrives at a time when manual gearboxes have become increasingly rare in high-performance cars, particularly at the top end of the market. Ferrari’s approach does not bring back a purely mechanical manual transmission, but it does attempt something more unusual: using modern electronics to restore an older kind of driver involvement. In a world where supercars increasingly think faster than their drivers, the 12Cilindri Manuale gives the driver something meaningful to do — and 9,500 rpm in which to do it.
