Before you even notice the manual gearbox, the 12Cilindri deserves attention for something else entirely. This is Ferrari reminding everyone what a proper grand tourer should look like. Its inspiration comes from the elegant front engined V12 berlinettas of the 1950s and 1960s, the sort of cars that could cross Europe at enormous speed before arriving outside a casino looking as though they’d barely broken a sweat. Designed by Ferrari’s Design Centre under Flavio Manzoni, the proportions are clean, long and unmistakably Ferrari. There are no unnecessary creases or theatrical wings. Instead, you get active aerodynamic elements neatly hidden within the bodywork, a dramatic reverse opening bonnet that proudly reveals the engine, and the signature quad exhaust pipes that have long been associated with Ferrari’s V12 cars. It is a modern supercar, certainly, but one that remembers exactly where it came from.
A V12 That Still Believes Bigger Is Better
Then there is the engine. And frankly, it deserves its own standing ovation. While much of the industry continues chasing smaller turbocharged units and electric assistance, Ferrari has stayed loyal to what it does best. Sitting beneath that enormous bonnet is a naturally aspirated 6.5 litre V12 producing 830 cv and 678 Nm of torque. More importantly, it revs all the way to 9,500 rpm, which means every gear becomes an excuse to hear it sing a little longer. Ferrari claims 0 to 100 km/h in around three seconds and a top speed beyond 340 km/h, figures that are comfortably ridiculous. Yet the numbers are almost secondary. The real attraction is the way the power builds, smooth, linear and relentless, accompanied by a soundtrack that no turbocharged engine, however clever, has yet managed to imitate.
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The Cabin Brings Back Ferrari’s Most Famous Detail
Step inside and your eyes immediately go to the centre tunnel because, for the first time in years, Ferrari has brought back something enthusiasts thought had disappeared forever. The open metal gear gate is back. Not as decoration, but as a working part of the car. Ferrari has redesigned the entire centre console around it, making manual shifts feel natural while keeping the cabin thoroughly modern. The polished aluminium gear knob displays all six forward gears alongside the selected driving mode, while the familiar shift pattern returns complete with reverse in the top left position. The surrounding aluminium structure takes inspiration from a tuning fork and neatly integrates the controls without making the cabin feel nostalgic. Buyers can also specify Tailor Made interiors with exclusive leather, Alcantara and either Comfort or Racing seats, both featuring six vertical grooves as a subtle reference to the gearbox itself.
Every Shift Was Engineered To Feel Mechanical
The clever part is what happens underneath that beautifully exposed shift gate. Ferrari hasn’t simply connected a lever to the gearbox like the old days. Instead, it has created an entirely new Manuale By Wire system that uses electronics to recreate the feel of a traditional manual transmission. The selector mechanism is machined from solid high strength steel and built to incredibly tight tolerances, ensuring every movement feels precise. The lever naturally springs back to the centre, reverse still requires pushing the lever down before selecting it, and the resistance changes throughout each shift just as it would in a conventional gearbox. Ferrari even spent time tuning the sound the mechanism makes because a manual gearbox should not only feel mechanical, it should sound mechanical too. It is engineering for people who still appreciate the little details.
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The Clutch Pedal Expects You To Know What You’re Doing
And then there is the clutch pedal, which, refreshingly, does not treat the driver like an amateur. Although it operates through a sophisticated by wire system, Ferrari has carefully recreated the resistance and travel of its classic manual gearboxes using springs, cams and mechanical loading systems. Every movement of your left foot is measured digitally before controlling the dual clutch transmission, but the experience remains remarkably authentic. Shift perfectly and everything feels beautifully smooth. Get it wrong and the gearbox reminds you. It can hesitate, it can jolt and, if you’re particularly clumsy, it can even stall the engine. Heel and toe downshifts are back too, because Ferrari understands that mastering a manual gearbox is part of the enjoyment, not something software should eliminate.
Limited Numbers Make It Even More Special
Only 1,499 examples of the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale will be built, a number chosen to honour the displacement of Ferrari’s very first V12 engine introduced in 1947. Every car receives a dedicated Tailor Made specification featuring laser etched side badges, exclusive forged alloy wheels, embossed Scudetti produced using techniques borrowed from fine coin making, and subtle pinstriping across the splitter and rear wings inspired by the legendary 365 GTB4. Buyers can personalise the car with one of 25 historic Ferrari colours, including the launch shade Rosso Rubino alongside classics such as Blu Pozzi, Argento Nürburgring, Rosso Dino and Nero Daytona. Optional six speed inspired liveries, carbon fibre door sills and bespoke interior finishes complete a package designed not simply to celebrate the manual gearbox, but to celebrate the kind of Ferrari many enthusiasts thought would never be built again.
