Ferrari has introduced the 12Cilindri Manuale, a limited-edition car said to be designed for drivers seeking a physical and engaging driving experience through its digitally tuned manual transmission.
Aside from being a limited-edition car, the 12Cilindri Manuale is integrated with Ferrari’s Manuale by-Wire system, engineered entirely at Maranello. Ferrari shared that the system offers a “contemporary reinterpretation of the analogue gear-shifting experience.” The vehicle’s Manuale by-Wire system operates entirely through electronics instead of mechanical cables, which are used in conventional manual transmission cars.
The system links the gear lever and the clutch pedal to the 12Cilindri Manuale’s eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Manuale by-Wire system developed by Ferrari features sensors that read the precise position of the clutch pedal and recreate the corresponding physical resistance of a traditional gearbox. In other words, Ferrari creates the illusion that you’re driving a car with a manual transmission when, in fact, it comes with an automatic transmission.
Ferrari added that the tech is smart enough to deliver a jolt or stall the car if the driver does not match engine speeds correctly. On the other hand, when the driver matches the engine speeds correctly, the system will create a smooth and precise gear shift. As such, the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale can be considered to be integrated with a digitally tuned manual transmission.
The Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale is powered by a 6.5-liter V12 engine that produces 830 horsepower and 678 Nm of torque, mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Ferrari claims it can go from zero to 100 km/h in about three seconds, and can hit a top speed of over 340 km/h.
In terms of the exterior, the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale features a sharp and crisp design. The Italian automaker shared that it comes with distinct details that pay homage to classic models, such as the subtle pinstripe finish on the front splitter and rear wings, which is a nod to the Ferrari 365 GTB4.
Inside, the 12Cilindri Manuale has a modern design layout, with the centre tunnel console, gear lever, knob, gear shift gate, and pedals that reinterpret the iconic elements of Ferrari cars. The gear shift gate features the six-speed shift pattern, with reverse at the top left, while the round aluminium gear knob is enhanced by a backlit screen print indicating the six gears.
The Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale is offered as a limited series of just 1,499 cars, a number that recalls the displacement of the first Ferrari 12-cylinder engine produced in 1947.
Autocar’s Take
The limited-edition Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale is an interesting car, as it comes with a gear shift gate featuring the six-speed shift pattern, as well as a clutch pedal that is not directly connected to the transmission. This design creates an illusion that you’re driving a manual transmission car when, in fact, it is an automatic car. But what makes the 12Cilindri clever is its technology, which can deliver a jolt or stall the car if the driver does not match engine speeds correctly. This creates the complete illusion that you’re actually driving a manual transmission car.
