Ferrari manual transmission plans took shape this summer as the marque unveiled a new gearbox that blends a traditional shift feel with modern by-wire technology, a move announced by CEO Benedetto Vigna after the debut of the electric Luce.
Ferrari introduces a manual-style gearbox
The physicist who spent years at CERN and later led micro-electronics work at STMicroelectronics became Ferrari’s chief executive in 2021. His résumé includes more than 200 patents and the development of the three-axis accelerometer that found its way into Nintendo Wii controllers and Apple iPhones.
Since taking the helm, he has stressed listening to customers rather than showcasing technology for its own sake. “When you fall in love with the technology rather than the product, you fail because you stop listening to the customer,” he told reporters.
The timeline that led to the manual-style system began on 25 May 2026, when Ferrari revealed the all-electric hypercar Luce. Forty days later, on 3 July, the company invited journalists back to Maranello to see the 12 Cilindri Manuale, a V12-powered model equipped with a novel manual gearbox.
Earlier in 2025, marketing chief Enrico Galliera had suggested that customers who still wanted a manual should purchase a classic Ferrari. The CEO responded by test-driving the brand’s own 275 GTB, confirming that a modern manual offering was needed.
“Our customers wanted to replicate the experience of driving manual cars from their past,” he explained, noting that the demand was for the tactile act of shifting rather than the specific mechanical linkage.
Applying his “past-and-future” philosophy, the executive instructed engineers to reinterpret the manual experience. The result is a gearbox that retains the eight-speed dual-clutch unit used in the car since launch, but replaces paddle shifters with an H-pattern gate and lever that controls the first six gears.
Despite the familiar layout, the system is entirely by-wire; there is no direct mechanical connection between the shift lever and the transmission internals. Vigna likened the approach to a by-wire winch used on Ferrari’s Hypersail racing yacht, where sailors did not notice any difference from a traditional gear-driven winch.
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The decision to keep a clutch pedal was described as “non-negotiable,” adding a third pedal to the cockpit. The shift gate is cast from aluminium in Ferrari’s own foundry, echoing the design of the last V12 manual, the 599 GTB.
Testing the new system
Ferrari invited 20 select customers to test early prototypes, keeping the nature of the transmission hidden during the drive.
The feedback confirmed that the perceived connection matched expectations, even though the underlying technology differed. Drivers praised the immediacy of the shift and the presence of a clutch pedal, indicating that the by-wire solution delivered the intended experience.
The engineers continue to refine the system, focusing on integration with the car’s steering, brake and throttle by-wire controls. The next steps involve final validation before the manual-style model reaches limited production later this year.
During a recent interview, the chief executive emphasized that “Effective innovation is a kind of oxymoron; the work to solve a problem such as the Manuale only happens through collaborative discussions between internal teams, suppliers and clients.” He described his office as deliberately screen-free, filled with books, artwork and scale models, allowing him to converse with colleagues without the mediation of digital displays. This environment, he said, encourages “curiosity and creativity” and forces teams to observe reality directly rather than through a monitor.
The firm is preparing a 32,000-square-metre educational hub slated to open in 2029. The facility will offer high-school and university students a pathway into automotive technology, reflecting the CEO’s belief that “the true driving force of progress remains the human element.” He also referenced the 2016 Capital Markets Day statement that Ferrari would continue to offer internal-combustion, hybrid and electric powertrains, showing that the brand has never pledged to abandon conventional engines.
When asked about future performance targets, he said delivering a 2000hp car was not requested by clients, reinforcing a customer-first approach. He added that “We have Luce customers that have only ever driven an electric car. For them, this is the car they have been waiting for,” highlighting the parallel development of high-performance electric models alongside the new manual offering. As the meeting concluded, chairman John Elkann entered the room to begin a board session focused on the next phase of Ferrari’s innovation agenda.
