- After being absent for ten years, Ferrari is contemplating reintroducing a clutch pedal into their vehicles.
- Only the exclusive and highly pricey Icona Heritage editions will come with a manual transmission option.
- The head of product development stated that the engine torque will be restricted to ensure the clutch remains manageable.
Ferrari has demonstrated through the design of the new 12-cylinder and Icona models such as the SP3 Daytona That it’s not beneath bringing back classic exterior design elements to make us truly desire their new vehicles. However, they might soon be considering an even more emotive revival: the gated manual transmission.
It has been 13 years since Ferrari last provided a manual transmission in one of its cars. The company decided against it partly due to the superior marketing alignment between its advanced paddle-shifting technology and its Formula 1 initiatives. Additionally, they recognized that many potential buyers preferred not having to manually change gears themselves.
Related: Lewis Hamilton Aims to Create a New Ferrari F40 Featuring a Manual Transmission
However, Gianmaria Fulgenzi, who heads up product development, has acknowledged that several of their customers are strongly advocating for the reintroduction of a manual transmission option, and surprisingly enough, Ferrari is actually listening.
In regard to manual gear changes, this might be an option down the line, contingent upon the product," Fulgenzi stated to the Australian site Car Sales. Unfortunately, for Ferrari enthusiasts who aren't obscenely affluent but just well-off, such a 'product' will not be among the company’s standard offerings like the 299 or 488.
Fulgenzi stated that if the manual were to come back at all, it would likely "appear on an Icona vehicle, as this represents our legacy—a car meant for admiration and should be driven with particular style."
Lewis Hamilton is advocating for a manual transmission Ferrari.
While earlier Icona models from Ferrari—the Monza SP1, SP2, and Daytona SP3—each priced at multiple millions and produced in limited numbers, have all included F1-style paddle shifters, there is interest from the brand’s newest F1 ace, Lewis Hamilton, for an upcoming Icona vehicle to feature a traditional manual transmission instead. Hamilton has proposed that Ferrari might create a contemporary tribute to their iconic model, the F40, naming it the F44 as a reference to his racecar number. F40 The F50 succeeded 's model as the last special Ferrari equipped with a manual transmission. However, the company’s ultimate stick-shift vehicle was actually a California released in 2012.
However, Fulgenzi cautioned that those determined to purchase a manual Ferrari should be prepared to face the trade-off; it would not only cost more money but also result in reduced performance. He explained this to Car Sales That engine torque would necessitate limitation relative to a DCT-equipped vehicle's power delivery to keep the clutch operable, suggesting that drivers would otherwise need 'a very strong leg.'
To provide some background, the 12Cilindri’s engine, a massive 6.5-liter V12, produces an impressive 500 lb-ft (678 Nm). However, the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the CTS-V leaves it in the dust with 659 lb-ft (894 Nm). Despite this power, Cadillac’s engineers were able to incorporate a manual transmission that doesn’t require extensive setup; you could start driving almost immediately after ordering one.
Should Ferrari decide to reintroduce manuals in their limited-edition vehicles, they would be hopping onto a bandwagon already embraced by others. BMW , whose $821,000 (€750,000) 2023 3.0 CSL comes equipped with a manual transmission, unlike its M4 Competition donor car which lacks this option. For years, manufacturers have encouraged us to opt for automatics at higher prices, but now they're pushing for them at reduced costs instead.
