Ferrari had its causes for abandoning handbook gearboxes after the 2012 California. Solely two or three convertibles had been ever bought with a stick shift, however the low take charge wasn’t the one issue behind the gated shifter’s demise. Again in 2016, former tech boss Michael Leiters defined there’s no handbook gearbox able to outperforming a dual-clutch automated. Nonetheless, fans proceed to request a handbook.
For these folks, Ferrari provides a easy resolution: purchase a used automobile. When Evo journal requested the corporate’s chief advertising and industrial officer if there have been any plans to carry the handbook again, Enrico Galliera gave a transparent reply: “We have already got it, in lots of our traditional vehicles.” His recommendation for anybody who needs to row their very own gears? “Purchase and restore our improbable classics.”
Picture by: Ferrari
“Now we have it [manual transmission], and we encourage purchasers to find the fantastic thing about driving a traditional automobile,” Galliera added. “We provide Corsa Piloti packages with traditional vehicles as a result of many individuals don’t know learn how to drive a handbook anymore. It’s an vital expertise that we are able to presently provide with our classics.”
Nonetheless, not all hope is misplaced. Ferrari hasn’t dominated out the opportunity of reviving the handbook for a choose few. Earlier this 12 months, chief product growth officer Gianmaria Fulgenzi mentioned a three-pedal setup might make sense for a high-end mannequin within the Icona sequence, the identical lineup that features the automatic-only Monza SP1/SP2 and Daytona SP3. In accordance with Fulgenzi, those that can afford multi-million-dollar Prancing Horses “are already asking for it.”
Though manuals are largely gone from high-end sports activities vehicles, Porsche has loved nice success with 911 particular editions fitted with a clutch pedal. Ferrari might justify the funding by charging a hefty premium, which its wealthiest purchasers would probably be keen to pay. A brand new mannequin with a conventional shifter would additionally stand out as a rock-solid funding, given the rarity of such an incidence.
However Ferrari’s reluctance to carry again the handbook is comprehensible. The corporate already has a backlog of orders extending into 2027, following report gross sales final 12 months. Moreover, the more and more superior security and driver-assist methods make manuals dearer to develop. Emissions laws additionally play a job, as fashionable automatics are usually extra environment friendly than equal stick shifts. Even Ferrari has to fulfill fleet emission targets, the place each gram counts, particularly in Europe.
A ultimate handbook Ferrari with an eye-watering price ticket to offset all these challenges? It’s a particular possibly. All of it depends upon what number of are keen to plunk down a not-so-small fortune for what would probably be the final of the breed.
