Ferrari lets a digital supercar pretend to be analogue: the 12Cilindri Manuale

© ferrari.com

Ferrari hasn't simply brought back the gear lever — it has built an imitation of an old manual on top of a modern 8-speed DCT. This is the first production Ferrari V12 with a lever and clutch pedal since the 599 GTB Fiorano of the early 2010s. In the 12Cilindri Manuale the driver gets three pedals, six manual ratios and even the risk of stalling if they get it wrong, yet behind all of it sit sensors, an electronic clutch pedal and the Manuale By-Wire algorithms. That is exactly what makes this newcomer more interesting than an ordinary nostalgia-driven special.

At its heart is the Ferrari 12Cilindri with a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12. The engine delivers 830 hp at 9250 rpm and 678 Nm at 7250 rpm, spins to 9500 rpm and works with an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox. But there are no paddles on the wheel here: Ferrari deliberately moved the emphasis to the lever, the clutch pedal and the ritual of shifting itself.

On performance it's a full-blown super-GT: 0–100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, 0–200 km/h in under 7.9 seconds, top speed above 340 km/h. Dry weight — 1565 kg, weight distribution 48.4:51.6 in favour of the rear axle, WLTC consumption — 15.5 L/100 km. The run is capped at 1499 units — a nod to the displacement of Ferrari's first twelve-cylinder engine of 1947.

The real talking point is the Manuale By-Wire philosophy itself. This is not a classic mechanical gearbox like the open-gate units of old Ferraris, but an electro-mechanical interface: the lever, pedal and sensors send commands to the control unit, and the DCT carries out the shift. In return the driver can play with techniques such as throttle blips, feel the resistance of the lever and switch between manual and automatic modes. Ferrari has even tuned the system so that clumsy clutch work can trigger a lurch or stall the engine.

Against the Lamborghini Revuelto, hybrid McLarens and electric grand tourers, this Ferrari isn't chasing the most fashionable powertrain. Its bet is physical involvement and collectible rarity. Inside there's an aluminium shift knob, a backlit gear pattern, a reworked centre console, bespoke Tailor Made materials, Comfort and Racing seat options, special wheels and trim details that nod to the 365 GTB4.

Pricing starts at €590,000, with the first deliveries scheduled for early 2027.

The liquidity of a limited-run V12 with three pedals could prove sturdier than that of many modern hybrid supercars. The buyer pays not for practicality but for the rare moment when Ferrari allowed a digital car to pretend it was analogue.