Ferrari’s 12Cilindri Manuale isn’t a ‘real’ manual—but who cares?

Ferrari’s 2027 12Cilindri Manuale has reignited the debate over what qualifies as a true manual transmission, but the Italian supercar maker isn’t sweating it. The flagship V12 grand tourer is the first manual-equipped Ferrari in over a decade, yet it doesn’t use a traditional gated six-speed stick. Instead, it’s built around the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic from the SF90 Stradale, retrofitted with a new electronic brain to mimic a manual experience.

Ferrari calls it “Manuale by Wire,” a system that replaces mechanical linkages between the shifter, clutch, and transmission with electronic signals—essentially steer-by-wire for your gearbox. The result? A transmission that can simulate the lurch of a missed shift, the stumble of a stall, and even the thrill of a clutch-dump burnout, all while revving the F140 HD V12 to its 9,500 RPM redline.

The setup even includes a fully automatic mode, similar to the one in the Koenigsegg CC850, though critics have been far quieter about that car’s transmission. The 12Cilindri Manuale cranks out 819 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque, figures that would make a traditional manual transmission a pipe dream. Ferrari’s last true manuals were in the early-2010s 599 GTB and California, and even those couldn’t handle this kind of power.

The “Manuale by Wire” is either a clever workaround or a heretical abomination, depending on who you ask—but it’s a reality. Ferrari’s logic is simple: either this, or no manual at all. The system even prevents moneyshifts, sparing the V12 from the kind of abuse that would require a six-figure rebuild.

Love it or hate it, the 12Cilindri Manuale proves that the future of driving isn’t about clinging to the past. It’s about blending tradition with technology, even if the purists won’t admit it’s still a win.