819 HP and Three Pedals: Ferrari Builds a 12Cilindri for Those Who Missed the Old School
Rumors point to a manual-transmission Ferrari 12Cilindri, possibly called 12Cilindri MM, debuting in July as a limited run for top clients.
After the electric Luce, Ferrari fans now have a reason for the opposite emotion. According to The Supercar Blog, the brand may bring back the manual gearbox — and not on a junior model, but on the 12Cilindri with its naturally aspirated V12.
If the rumor holds, it would be the first production Ferrari with three pedals in nearly two decades. The last new road-going Ferrari with a manual is widely considered to be the California, while the flagship V12 GT hasn’t been offered with a stick since 2007. For a brand that long ago switched to lightning-quick automated transmissions, the move looks almost defiant.
The new version is expected to debut as early as July under the name 12Cilindri MM. But it won’t go mainstream: Ferrari will most likely cap production at a few hundred cars and offer them to its most important clients. In other words, this isn’t the manual returning to the regular configurator — it’s an expensive gesture for collectors.
The technical logic is obvious. The 12Cilindri is powered by a 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 making 819 hp. Paired with a manual, the car won’t be quicker than today’s paddle-shift supercars, but it will be far sharper emotionally. The buyer isn’t paying for tenths of a second, but for the rare sensation of controlling an engine that is itself becoming an endangered species.
Intriguingly, Ferrari may also be working on a stranger idea — a «digital» manual. This refers to a system with an electronic clutch pedal that mimics the effort and feedback of a traditional gearbox. The technology could in theory suit EVs like the Luce, but the 12Cilindri, if the rumors are true, should get a genuine manual.
For Ferrari, this could be a precise read of the market’s mood. While some argue over whether the brand even needs an EV, others are ready to pay enormous sums for a V12, a lever and a third pedal. Sometimes the future sells worse than a properly packaged past.