Ferrari brings back the manual gearbox with 12 Cilindri Manuale limited edition
The 1,499-unit special edition pairs a 830 hp V12 with a new by-wire system that lets drivers switch between a six-speed manual and an eight-speed automatic.
A long-awaited return
Ferrari has unveiled the 12 Cilindri Manuale, a limited-run special edition that marks the return of a manual gearbox to the Maranello lineup after more than twenty years. The last model to offer a traditional stick shift was the 599 GTB, and since then every Ferrari has relied on dual-clutch automatic transmissions. The new car, limited to 1,499 units, is built on the 12 Cilindri platform and will reach first customers in early 2027 with a starting price of 590,000 euros.
During meetings with our clients we asked them what more we could do to improve our cars. 'Nothing,' they said, 'but give us the pleasure of gripping a gear lever again.'
How Manuale by-wire works
The heart of the project is the Manuale by-wire system, developed over four years by Ferrari engineers. It combines a six-speed manual gearbox with the existing eight-speed DCT, allowing the driver to switch between pure manual control and full automatic mode at the press of a button. The system uses advanced sensors and dedicated control units to replicate the mechanical feel of a traditional manual, including clutch engagement, gear-lever resistance and even the characteristic metallic click when a gear is selected.
The manual gearbox has accompanied many Ferrari cars that remain in memory, the last to mount it was twenty years ago the 599. Now it's time to put the driver back at the centre of driving and let them relive the pleasure of an iconic, physical and expressive gesture.
The by-wire architecture includes a redesigned central tunnel with the classic gated shifter, a clutch pedal that is also electronically controlled, and software that can simulate a stall if the clutch is mishandled. Ferrari says the system delivers millimetric precision without distorting the natural gesture of changing gear.
Design and exclusivity
Visually, the 12 Cilindri Manuale stands out with bespoke details created by the design team led by Flavio Manzoni. The front fascia echoes the Daytona's striped effect, while the rear features a double pair of exhaust tailpipes. New five-spoke forged wheels and an aluminium sill plate with an engraved logo complete the exterior. Inside, the central tunnel has been completely redesigned around the gated shifter, which Ferrari calls a meeting point between tradition and innovation.
We didn't just adapt the interior to new requirements; we tried to faithfully reinterpret the spirit of the original car.
Buyers can choose from 25 body colours and further personalisation options. The limited production run of 1,499 units underscores the car's exclusivity.
Performance and price
Under the bonnet sits the familiar 6.5-litre V12, producing 830 CV at 9,250 rpm and 678 Nm of torque at 7,250 rpm. Performance figures are unchanged from the standard 12 Cilindri: 0–100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, 0–200 km/h in under 7.9 seconds and a top speed above 340 km/h. The manual by-wire system can be fitted to any petrol or plug-in hybrid Ferrari model, though the 12 Cilindri Manuale is the first to receive it.
- Ferrari 599 GTB becomes the last model offered with a manual gearbox.
- Ferrari begins four-year development of the Manuale by-wire system.
- 12 Cilindri Manuale unveiled at the Maranello style centre.
- First customer deliveries expected in early 2027.
Driven by customer passion
Ferrari openly acknowledges that the project was born from direct feedback. Clients repeatedly asked for a more engaging, physical connection with the car, and the company spent four years engineering a solution that marries old-school tactility with modern electronics. The result is a transmission that can be as raw or as relaxed as the driver wishes, a dual-nature character that Ferrari believes has no equivalent among high-performance supercars.
