- The last manual Ferrari built was a 599 GTB assembled way back in 2012.
- Ferrari recently filed an intriguing gated manual shifter that doubles as an auto.
- This special 12Cilindri is expected to be offered in Coupe and Aperta guises.
Following reports that Ferrari is gearing up to launch a limited-edition 12Cilindri with a manual transmission, the carmaker has confirmed it will indeed unveil something special on July 4. While it stopped short of announcing what it has up its sleeve, a recent patent application adds credence to suggestions it’ll be a stick shift 12Cilindri.
During a recent dealer conference in Las Vegas, Ferrari chief executive Benedetto Vigna stated that, “in a few weeks, if you can bear with us a little bit, then you will see something new where we put together something from the past with eyes on the future. Let’s say wait till the fourth of July. It’s really soon.” If he’s talking about a manual 12Cilindri, then Ferrari enthusiasts have something to get very excited about.
Read: Ferrari Went Electric With The Luce, Now The 12Cilindri May Go Manual
It’s been 14 long years since Ferrari last built a road car with a manual gearbox, and for this new one, it doesn’t appear to be opting for any old manual. Instead, a recent patent filing made by the marque depicts a new kind of transmission using shift-by-wire technology, similar to the setup found in the Koenigsegg CC850.
A Manual On Demand
This means drivers can drive the car like a traditional manual, complete with a six-speed gated shifter, or choose to drive it like an automatic. Images in the filing reveal R, N, D, and M buttons on the shifter, quickly and easily changing its functionality.
As noted by CarBuzz, the shifter moves along two axes and uses a pin at the base of the shift lever that connects to a tiny ECU. It also uses spring-loaded contact rollers to provide an authentic manual-shifting experience. A separate filing made by Ferrari reveals that this setup can be hooked up to the dual-clutch transmission already used by Ferrari, including in the 12Cilindri, meaning it could be a relatively simple plug-and-play system that can be combined with a clutch pedal.
Given the apparent effort Ferrari has put into designing and developing this new transmission, we wouldn’t be shocked if it were added to other cars. For now, current rumors indicate the limited-run six-speed model will be dubbed the 12Cilindri MM, and it may be offered in Coupe and Aperta configurations.
