Ferrari Brings Back the Manual. Almost.FerrariRumors that Ferrari was planning to reintroduce the manual transmission have been circulating for a while. It turns out these were nearly correct. The 12Cilindri Manuale is a limited-edition version of the company's V-12-powered grand tourer that does indeed have both a stick shift and a clutch pedal. But it isn't a traditional manual; rather, a high-tech rewiring of the 12Cilindri's existing rear-mounted dual-clutch transmission.While we will need to wait to drive the Manuale to report on how successful the transformation has been, Ferrari has put significant resource into engineering what it describes as its E-Shift system. The 12Cilindri Manuale's existing eight-speed DCT can still shift itself with an automatic Drive mode, which will be functionally identical to that of the regular car. But drivers can also take control of gear selection by pressing the clutch pedal and then slotting the open-gate manual gearshift between six forward speeds—the top two ratios inhibited in manual mode—and also use it to select neutral and reverse.Control is done through the combination of smart software and the new gear selector and clutch pedal. Although "clutch" pedal might be a better descriptor, given the lack of any physical connection between it and the two clutches within the transmission. Resistance has been produced by spring rates chosen to replicate the force required for a conventional pedal, but the mechanism just operates electronic switches.AdvertisementAdvertisementSimilarly, the gearshift is designed to match the action and weighting of Ferrari's old manual transmissions, but sends instructions to the gearbox brain through microswitches. "It is not just about moving from one gear to another," said Gianmaria Fulgenzi, Ferrari's product development chief, as he introduced the new system at Ferrari's design studio in Maranello. "The transient phases are the key: the sound, the slight friction, the engagement of the lever itself."FerrariBased on the versions of both clutch and shifter I experienced in a static car at the technical preview, this seems convincing—at a standstill at least. The shift action was smoother and more satisfying to use than I remember the sometimes notchy actions of Ferrari's later true manuals being; that was an era when the company wanted to persuade buyers to choose its robotized "F1" system. It was also a novel experience to sit in a modern Ferrari without large gearchange paddles behind the steering wheel, something that hasn't been possible for nearly 20 years.Despite their mechanical precision, the clutch and gearshift will only be an interface to the software that needs to then work out how to make the Manuale's DCT deliver manual-like behavior. Bringing the clutch up too quickly from rest will indeed cause the V-12 to stall, although Valentin Marguet, the engineer who led development of the system, confirmed this is done by simply stopping the engine rather than risking damage by connecting it to the stationary driveshaft. But it will be possible to operate the clutch when the car is moving and coast in neutral, or even abandon mechanical sympathy by building revs and then dumping the clutch, something the regular 12Cilindri's transmission won't allow.Ferrari"If you can do something with a manual gearbox, we want to make it possible to do the same thing here," Marguet explained.AdvertisementAdvertisementThere are limitations to that philosophy. The Manuale will not let its driver do anything that would physically damage the driveline, so it won't be possible to "money shift" into an inappropriately low gear when the car is running and over-rev the engine. If the driver attempts to select an incompatible ratio, a solenoid within the gearshift mechanism will inhibit movement to that position. It will be possible to swap from manual mode to automatic at any point, but drivers won't be able to select manual control at speeds of over about 60 mph, or if the gearshifter has been left in an inappropriate gear—this indicated by an overlay on the digital rev counter display.FerrariMarguet also said that, for reasons of verisimilitude, the system also requires the clutch pedal to be pressed to switch between ratios in manual mode, so it won't be possible to flat-shift without using it. Of course, that was possible in truly manual Ferraris, at the risk of expensive graunching noises.Beyond the obvious presence of the gearshift in the cabin, and the extra pedal in the footwell, visual changes are limited. The new cars gets a small laser-etched "Manuale" logo set into the vents on the car's front fenders, a subtle pinstripe on front splitter and rear wings, and a new, unique forged wheel design. All of the limited run of 1499 cars will be part of Ferrari's Tailor Made program, which opens up an additional level of bespoke optioning to buyers, but one that adds substantially to the bill. It will only be available as a coupe.FerrariWe don't have finalized U.S. pricing, but deep pockets are going to be necessary. Based on the stated European figure, the Manuale carries a premium of nearly 50 percent over the regular 12Cilindri coupe. If that translates into dollars, it will put the Manuale around the $700,000 mark. That's a big supplement for a neat trick.You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State