Ferrari may be the most iconic automaker out there. One of the brand’s most iconic features is the gated manual transmission. Ferrari last offered a stick shift on the California in 2012 (and only sold a handful of them). The brand has dismissed the idea of bringing one back. But the gated manual could be in line for a return. Ferrari has not officially confirmed it will offer another manual transmission car. But a Ferrari exec is not ruling one out in the future.
Key Takeaways
- Ferrari has not sold a manual transmission car since 2012
- But Ferrari’s Chief Product Development Officer is not ruling a future one out
- A new Ferrari manual would be an Icona model
- It would also have performance limitations to prevent the clutch from needing to be too heavy
- Ferrari admits it may be hitting peak performance
Ferrari Could Add A Gated Manual To The Lineup, With A Couple Of Big Caveats
Ferrari’s Chief Product Development Officer Gianmaria Fulgenzi told media members that a manual transmission Ferrari “could be in the future.” However, he laid down a couple of constraints that could disappoint enthusiasts.
The gated manual would likely return to an Icona model. The model would have a very limited run. It would be crazy expensive. Previous Icona vehicles have retailed for more than $2.3 million from the factory. Tariffs could mean a steep surcharge on top of that in America. Ferrari would also have to limit performance to accommodate the manual; the torque requirement at the top end would require a clutch that is too heavy to put into a road car.
Ferrari May Have Hit Peak Performance
Why would Ferrari consider bringing back the manual transmission? One reason is that Ferrari may be hitting the peak of what it can deliver in on-road performance, and other ways to engage the driver need to be considered. Fulgenzi noted that the SF 90 XX was approaching the 2.3-second 0 to 60 MPH time of an F1 car. Anything above 900 HP would strain the chassis and tires too much. Pushing the envelope further could also be physically punishing for the brand’s owners.
“For a normal driver you have to physically support yourself for this kind of acceleration and in terms of muscles and bones in your neck, it’s not easy for long [periods of] time,” he said, adding that drivers would require F1-style levels of training to endure the g-forces involved.
“I don’t think all our customers want to have to train every morning just to drive our cars.”
TopSpeed’s Take
A Ferrari Icona with a manual feels like something that could happen, especially if Lewis Hamilton is involved. Two significant reasons manuals are leaving the market are the cost of producing them and the demand. Ferrari could charge whatever it wants to cover the cost of the manual’s development. The limited run would likely sell out to existing owners before the public even discovered the car was happening. And a multi-million-dollar manual wouldn’t undercut the used market for them.
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