Ferrari may bring back manual transmission after 13-year absence

Ferrari is considering reviving the manual transmission, more than a decade after the iconic gated gearbox disappeared from its lineup. The move could mark a significant shift for the Italian automaker, known in recent years for ultra-high-performance dual-clutch systems.

Ferrari has not offered a manual since the California ceased production in 2012. But the brand’s chief product development officer, Gianmaria Fulgenzi, told Carsales that a limited return could be on the table; specifically for special models. “Customers are already asking,” Fulgenzi confirmed.

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The manual transmission, long beloved by purists for the visceral driving experience it offers, would not be coming back across the board. Instead, Ferrari may reserve it for its ultra-exclusive Icona series, home to limited-production models like the $2.2 million Daytona SP3.

“We’re reaching the limit of performance,” Fulgenzi said. “Not because we can’t go faster, but because most people simply can’t keep up.” He explained that modern Ferraris are now so powerful, it would take race-level training to handle them. Offering a manual would likely mean reducing peak performance to balance the increased driver involvement.

The Daytona SP3, for example, features a 6.5-litre V12 engine producing 828 horsepower. While a manual gearbox would blunt some of that raw power, it would reintroduce an analog joy that’s been largely absent in modern supercars. The manual could help reconnect the brand with its heritage, where mechanical purity once defined the Ferrari experience.

Fulgenzi emphasised that the potential manual option would only be for collectors and enthusiasts willing to trade outright speed for a more emotionally engaging drive. “Probably an Icona car,” he said. “Because it’s a car to be admired; and to be driven in a certain way.”

While nothing is confirmed yet, even this hint is likely to generate excitement. For fans who’ve longed for the return of the iconic chrome-gated shifter, Ferrari may soon give them a reason to reach for the clutch once again.