Ferrari has finally brought back a stick shift—kind of
Ferrari has finally brought back a manual gearbox on the new 12Cilindri Manuale—its first stick-shift offering since the 2012 California—but it is not a traditional three-pedal unit. The V-12 grand tourer keeps an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and adds Ferrari's in-house Manuale-by-wire system, giving drivers a gated shifter, clutch pedal, and full automatic mode when they want less involvement.
Just one month after unveiling the controversial Luce EV, the Prancing Horse returned with a headline-grabbing twist on driving feel. For collectors who treat rare machinery as part of a broader luxury lifestyle—alongside trophy properties in our Luxury Real Estate & Dream Homes coverage—the Manuale signals that engagement, not just lap times, still sells at the top of the market.
Key Takeaways
- The 12Cilindri Manuale is Ferrari's first stick shift in more than a decade, following the 2012 California.
- It uses Manuale-by-wire on an existing dual-clutch gearbox—no mechanical link between the shifter, clutch, and V-12.
- Drivers row through the first six of eight gears manually; the top two ratios stay reserved for automatic cruising.
- Performance matches the standard 12Cilindri: 819 hp, 0–62 mph in 2.9 seconds, and a 211 mph top speed.
- Ultra-luxury buyers often pair rare cars with landmark homes, such as Long Copse in Surrey, listed at $4.8 million.
What Is the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale?
The Manuale is a new variant of Ferrari's 12Cilindri grand tourer. Despite marketing that revives the romance of a gated lever, the car does not technically feature a conventional manual gearbox.
Instead, Ferrari mounts its familiar rear dual-clutch unit and layers on tactile hardware: a polished steel knob on an open-gate shifter and a clutch pedal in the footwell. The center console is redesigned around that shifter, while exterior and interior styling otherwise stay close to the standard car.
How Does Ferrari's Manuale-by-Wire System Work?
Ferrari developed the technology in-house so the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission can mimic one of the marque's traditional manuals. There is no physical connection between the shifter, clutch, and engine.
Start with your foot on the electronic clutch and the 12Cilindri behaves like a stick-shift Ferrari, including the ability to stall. Start with your foot on the brake and you unlock the transmission's final two gears for a more relaxed automatic drive. You can switch to full automatic mode at any time while driving.
That dual personality matters on long grand-touring routes: manual involvement when the road tightens, seamless cruising when it opens up, as Robb Report reports.
Why Does a Simulated Manual Matter to Luxury Collectors?
At this price tier, buyers are not choosing between transportation and practicality. They are buying identity, rarity, and the sensory theatre of ownership—the same instincts that drive demand for one-of-a-kind residences.
Consider Long Copse, a historic Arts and Crafts home in the English countryside of Surrey that recently listed for $4.8 million—only the third time it has traded since it was built in 1899. Estates like that and cars like the Manuale appeal to the same audience: people who want objects with lineage, craft, and a story that cannot be replicated in a mass-market product.
What Performance Does the 12Cilindri Manuale Deliver?
Performance between the standard and Manuale versions is the same. The car shares a naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12 rated at 819 hp and 500 ft lbs of torque, with a 9,500 rpm redline.
Acceleration and top speed are unchanged: 0–62 mph in 2.9 seconds and a 211 mph maximum. The Manuale is proof that Maranello can resurrect the manual fantasy on modern hardware—kind of—without dulling the numbers that define a contemporary Ferrari.