As the popularity of vinyl records and vintage clothing show us, what is old is new and cool again. The same can be said about driving cars with manual transmission.
The 2027 12Cilindre Manuale by Ferrari attempts to the capture the nostalgia of driving stick with an electronically controlled “Manuale By-Wire” system that includes a classically styled gated shifter and a clutch pedal. Ferrari even claims that you can even stall the car if the clutch is not engaged.
Yet, for the purists out there, this is not a true manual. The car possesses software that prevents overrevving the engine or starting it while it is in gear. Drivers can also switch to the fully automatic, eight-speed transmission (DCT gearbox) at any time.
In light of the controversial reaction to the Luce, I think this is a much better move by Ferrari as it gives car enthusiasts exactly what they want — modern performance with an old-school feel. Furthermore, it has a limited production run (1499 units), ensuring it will maintain its investment value. And of course, who doesn’t want to drive a Ferrari with a naturally aspirated V-12 with 818 hp?
