Let’s get one thing out of the way: the new Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale doesn’t really have a manual transmission. Instead, it uses something far more complex—and potentially even more interesting.
Called "Manuale By-Wire," the system was developed entirely in Maranello. There’s a shift lever and a clutch pedal, and you operate them just like you would in any manual car. The difference is that neither is mechanically connected to the transmission. Every 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 revs to a screaming 9,500 rpm. What Ferrari reinvented is everything between the driver's hands and feet and the gearbox. It's a fascinating piece of engineering.
This story originally appeared on Motor1 Italy
Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale
