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Ferrari has brought back the manual with a new special variant of the 12Cilindri called the 12Cilindri Manuale. Yes, you read that right, a Ferrari has a manual gearbox again for the first time since 2012, when the 599 GTB and California were both offered with the DIY shift option. But this new manual gearbox is nothing like the one you remember, because it’s not a traditional manual at all. Instead, Ferrari has copied a Koenigsegg CC850 trick and has turned its eight-speed dual-clutch automatic into a manual simulation.
Don’t click away — it’s still an exciting development that’s worth reading about, even if you’re not one of the limited 1,499 customers who will be allowed to own the 12Cilindri Manuale.
Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale exterior – side viewFerrari
Naturally Aspirated V12, Manual That’s Not Really A Manual
In the 12Cilindri Manuale, Ferrari is debuting the Manuale By-Wire system, which allows the eight-speed DCT to operate as a gated manual. It has a clutch pedal too. But neither the H-pattern shifter nor the clutch pedal are physically connected to the transmission in any way.
Ferrari 12Cilindri ManualeFerrari
Instead, both use electronic actuators and feedback systems to mimic the feel and behavior of an actual gated manual, without the clunky nature often associated with a gated H-pattern. Drivers can switch between manual and automatic systems, and in automatic mode, can even use the shifter to pre-select a gear, which is previewed on the tachometer to show where the revs will be at the current speed. And because the emphasis is on the gated shifter, there are no paddles on the steering column – a first for a dual-clutch Ferrari.
In manual mode, the clutch detects driver force and inputs, and can cause clunky shifts or even stall if you don’t treat it with the finesse it deserves. And just like a real shifter, it self-centers when between the gears, and you can heel-and-toe shift it. As for which gears you’re manually switching between, it’s the first six ratios of the eight-speed transmission. After all, you’re likely to be seeking engagement at lower speeds, not high-speed cruising. And while you can switch between any available gear, a lockout mechanism will prevent costly money-shifting.
Base Trim Engine
6.5-liter V12 Naturally Aspired
Base Trim Transmission
8-speed DCT Automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
Rear-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
819 hp
Base Trim Torque
500 lb-ft @ 7,250 rpm
0-60 MPH
2.9 sec
Segment
Sports Car
And speaking of revs, the 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 has plenty of them — it’ll rev out to 9,500 rpm while producing up to 818 horsepower at 9,250 rpm and 500 lb-ft of torque. Because the transmission doesn’t have any real clutch, the 12Cilindri Manuale has no need to sacrifice power or torque for the sake of a stick shift.
As for the obligatory performance metrics, zero to 62 mph takes 2.9 seconds, 124 mph comes up in less than 7.9 seconds, and a top speed of 211 mph is in the cards. Of course, those figures are determined by driver skill if ypou’re attempting them in manual mode.
Limited Production, Custom Design
The 12Cilindri Manuale will be produced in limited numbers with unique styling elements, and straddles the line between Ferrari’s mainstream offerings and those that hail from the brand’s Tailor Made personalization program. Only 1,499 will be sold, sporting Manuale-only design elements penned by Flavio Manzoni, and they’ll sell for a rough starting MSRP of $675,000. That’s about $250,000 more than the standard 12Cilindri.
Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale Fender BadgeFerrari
These include laser-etched badges on the fenders and pinstripe finishing on the front splitter and rear wings as a tribute to the 356 GTB4. Tailor Made design elements include a range of curated paint colors and interior finishes (including both leather and Alcantara). Forged alloy wheels — specific to this model — are available in four finishes. Even the scudetto (the prancing horse shield) is exclusive to the Manuale, produced using a technique also used to create precious coins, and resulting in a monochromatic embossed look.
Because it’s a Ferrari, you can customize it in any way you see fit, with 25 Ferrari paint colors — including the Rosso Rubino you see here — and a special livery available in various colors, paying tribute to the manual gearbox.
Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale scudetto badgeFerrari
