Hyundai seems to have started a trend with the Ioniq 5 N. It was the first EV to offer a simulated multi-speed transmission mode, and it’s becoming widespread. Kia and Genesis, being corporate siblings, nabbed the feature, too, and now even Porsche has introduced its own version on the Taycan, a car that already had a two-speed transmission. Ferrari certainly could’ve done the same with its first EV, the Luce, but it didn’t. Here’s why.
2027 Ferrari Luce exterior at Goodwood Festival of SpeedMichal Okonski/CarBuzz/Valnet
Paddles That Don’t Do What You Expect
CarBuzz reporter Michal Okonski found this out from interviewing Ferrari Global Marketing Manager Pietro Virgolin. When asked about the lack of simulated gear shifting and how Ferrari adds engagement, he said, “We approach it from a completely different way.” He was referencing the Luce’s “torque-control paddles.”
2027 Ferrari Luce interior at Goodwood Festival of SpeedMichal Okonski/CarBuzz/Valnet
These are your typical back-of-the-steering wheel paddles. The left paddle has a use like that in other EVs, in which it controls how strong regenerative braking is. The right paddle, though, is where things get a little weird. Apparently, clicking through it raises the amount of torque and power delivered by the electric motors. The instruments show a “torque meter,” which also indicates to the driver when to press the right paddle and increase output for optimal acceleration.
“So we decided to split this kind of power in five steps. So, every time that you will play with it, you will receive more torque and more power. So, every time you can get in touch with it, you receive much more, and so this is different from what you have when you get in touch with the gearbox.” — Ferrari Global Marketing Manager Pietro Virgolin
It seems to us that Ferrari wanted to create a driving experience that would be unique to the Luce and its electric powertrain. Simulating a transmission would just make the car feel like a conventional combustion vehicle.
2027 Ferrari Luce exterior at Goodwood Festival of SpeedMichal Okonski/CarBuzz/Valnet
Ferrari Could Probably Implement A Simulated Manual If It Wanted
Not quite two weeks ago, Ferrari revealed the 12Cilindri Manuale. It looks like it has a six-speed manual transmission, complete with a clutch pedal and gates for each gear. However, these are all electronic controls connected to the same 8-speed dual-clutch automatic that the 12Cilindri already came with. At the flip of a switch, the car can be driven in automatic mode, or it can go into the simulated manual mode. The clutch pedal disconnects the engine from the drive wheels, and if you’re not careful, the car can even stall out. The six manually-selectable gears also correspond to actual gears, just with two left out.
Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale exterior – side viewFerrari
It falls in a weird middle ground of both faking the manual experience, but still controlling a transmission. So, Ferrari must have felt it was still authentic enough, and it sounds as though it may be difficult to tell that there’s not any real mechanical manual control. We wouldn’t be surprised if Ferrari learned a lot about recreating certain sensations, such as pedal feedback and the centering nature of the shifter that could hypothetically be employed to give an EV a simulated manual. The idea has also been proven by Toyota with prototypes, and Subaru has a patent for a similar idea.
Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale Gated Shifter Close-upFerrari
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Ferrari obviously understands that, while electric propulsion is likely the long-term future for cars and provides huge performance potential, it also makes it more difficult for automakers to differentiate their products and maintain driver engagement. We appreciate that Ferrari is attempting a new approach at adding involvement with its first EV, and in a way that isn’t simply emulating cars of the past. We’ll have to try a Luce for ourselves to see if the torque-control paddles are successful, and time will tell whether customers demand more combustion-era technology simulation, like with the 12Cilindri Manuale.
