Let’s make one thing clear: the new Ferrari 12cylinder manual does not In fact Has a manual transmission. Instead, it uses something far more complex and potentially even more interesting.
The system called “manual by-wire” was developed entirely in Maranello. It has a shift lever and a clutch pedal, and you operate them just like you would in any manual car. The difference is that none of these are mechanically connected to the transmission. Each movement is converted into an electronic signal, which then commands the same eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) found in the standard 12Cilindri.
Mechanically, the powertrain is unchanged. The naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 still makes 819 horsepower and spins at 9,500 rpm. Everything Ferrari has redesigned is between the driver’s hands and feet and the gearbox. This is a fascinating example of engineering.
This story originally appeared on Motor1 Italy
ferrari 12cyl manual
Photo by: Ferrari
Shifter: Designed to feel mechanical
The shift assembly weighs less than 7.7 pounds, but it’s packed with engineering you’ll never see. At its core is a block of high-strength steel that has been machined from solid billet to incredibly tight tolerances, ensuring that the lever develops almost no play even after years of use.
The mechanism uses two separate rotational movements: one selects the gear, while the other engages it. A system of eccentric rollers automatically returns the lever to the center position. But the real magic happens at the point of engagement.
Photo by: Ferrari
A rotating drum with a special profile works with a preloaded mechanism to create resistance before suddenly releasing. That release creates the satisfying “click” you feel through the shift knob, which recreates the tactile sensation of a traditional manual gearbox by using electronics instead of a mechanical linkage. Ferrari also treated the surface of the drum to ensure that its feel remained consistent throughout the life of the car.
Two Hall-effect sensors continuously monitor the position of the lever on both axes using a magnetic field instead of physical contact. Meanwhile, an electromagnetic solenoid acts as a lockout, physically preventing the lever from completing the shift if the transmission doesn’t allow it.
Ferrari also engineered the sound of the mechanism so that the acoustic feedback adds to the experience. Like classic Ferraris, reverse is engaged by pushing the lever down and selecting the upper-left position of the shift gate.
Clutch: What happens when you go wrong?
The pedal box is completely new to accommodate a third pedal. Like the shifter, the clutch is completely by-wire. An angular position sensor continuously measures pedal travel and translates the driver’s input into hydraulic commands that operate the DCT’s clutch pack.
The challenge was to make the electronic clutch pedal feel as real as possible.
Ferrari solved that problem with a passive mechanical system consisting of a preloaded spring, a cam, and a roller. Together, they recreate the resistance curve of a conventional clutch, creating effort when you release the pedal before it falls to the engagement point.
Because that resistance is generated mechanically rather than electronically, the pedal responds instantly, while sensors synchronize everything with the engine and transmission.
Photo by: Ferrari
From behind the wheel, it behaves like a traditional manual. Keep your timing and shifts smooth. Miss it, and you’ll feel a jolt – or the engine will even stall.
Manual mode controls the first six forward and reverse gears, and can only be activated using the clutch pedal. There are no steering-wheel paddle shifters, marking the first time in many years that Ferrari has removed them entirely.
Switch to automatic mode, and the DCT handles the shifting automatically. Still, you can pre-select gears with the lever, and the digital instrument cluster previews how the change will affect engine speed before the change occurs.
Photo by: Ferrari
You can still make proper downshifts by heel-and-toeing and matching the revs by mixing the throttle and brake. And if you abuse the clutch at launch, you can stall the engine. These are experiences that Ferrari owners haven’t had for a very long time.
In other words, Maranello may have accomplished something remarkable. Whether it really captures the magic of a traditional manual gearbox or not, we will only know when we drive it.
