Ferrari Adds A Manual To The 12Cilindri, But That’s Only Partly True

Manual fans rejoice! Or maybe not. This is the new Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale, and as the name implies, it comes with a “manual”, but it isn’t fully what you think it is.

A Manual That Isn’t

You see, it may have three pedals, a gated shifter, and all the mechanical feedback you’d expect from a manual. Only, it isn’t a manual. It’s still using the 12Cilindri’s default eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, mind you, so what kind of wizardry is happening underneath?

Well, the newly developed gated shifter and clutch pedal are all electronic connections only. Ferrari calls the entire system “Manuale By-Wire”, and its goal is to simply give its potential customers the option to drive this supercar in automatic or manual—albeit with an electronic gated shifter and clutch pedal instead of paddle shifters.

Ferrari spent a great deal on creating this simulated manual. The entire system comes with advanced mechanisms designed to simulate the loads and sensations of a clutch decoupling, synchronizing, and then engaging. Even the shifter itself has been meticulously engineered to replicate the sensations of the gears meshing together during every stroke of the gear lever.

Yes, You Can Stall The Car

The simulation doesn’t end there, because the smoothness of your gear changes will also affect how the vehicle engages those gears. The Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale can deliberately program a lurch to the transmission if you release the clutch too abruptly, or at worst, you can even stall the vehicle.

What you won’t be able to do, whether deliberately or by mistake, is what we call a “money shift”, or basically entering into an incorrect gear that can destroy the transmission, since the system will lock you out of lower gears if the revs are too high.

The Limitations

Since all of this is electronic with only minimal mechanical linkages where it’s needed, the Manuale By-Wire only weighs 5 kg. And since it’s still the same eight-speed dual-clutch automatic as the standard 12Cilindri, the vehicle’s manual mode can be deactivated.

This calls into question its six-speed gated shifter: if it has eight gears, why does the shifter only have six? That’s because when in manual mode, only six of the eight gears can be used, while seventh and eighth are only accessible in automatic mode. Speaking of which, though you can switch between manual and automatic at any point of the drive, you’ll have to go below 100 kph if you want to switch from automatic to manual.

Tailor Made Details For Exclusivity

Apart from the Manuale By-Wire, Ferrari has introduced a few bespoke details from its Tailor Made program to set the 12Cilindri Manuale apart from the standard model. At the front, the black mask fascia has been updated with a subtle pinstripe, which pays homage to the 365 GTB Daytona. The front fenders also get laser-etched Manuale labels, while forged wheels and unique livery options are other exclusive items to make the 12Cilindri Manuale stand out even more. Lastly, the rear end gets similar pinstripes to the ones at the front end.

Moving inside the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale, the main highlight is the raised center tunnel to accommodate the gated shifter. Behind the gated shifter are RND buttons, along with the slot for the Ferrari key fob. Up to three screens are fitted inside the 12Cilindri Manuale, and this is also a good time to highlight that the new Ferrari steering wheel with physical controls also make their way into this supercar. Finally, the 12Cilindri Manuale’s interior has a few leather and trim choices that are unique to this version.

Same V12 Goodness

While the exterior and interior come with a few unique details to set itself apart, the powertrain of the 12Cilindri Manuale is completely unchanged. The naturally-aspirated 6.5-liter V12 still produces 819 horsepower, 678 Nm of torque, and revs up to 9,500 rpm for a truly breathtaking soundtrack. However, with a 0-100 kph time of three seconds, the Manuale By-Wire makes it a tenth slower versus the standard model.

Only 1,499 Units Up For Grabs

Is the Manuale By-Wire a true manual, though? For me, it is undoubtedly a simulation, because everything here is purely electronic. At least if you want a supercar that gives you the option to switch between automatic and what seems to be a well-developed manual simulation, then the 12Cilindri Manuale may appeal to you. Only 1,499 units of the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale will be sold worldwide, with deliveries beginning sometime in early 2027.