How the manual transmission of the new Ferrari works, which is not actually manual

Ferrari has just presented an unusual solution for purists who miss the third pedal in their super sports cars. The new Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale features the so-called “Manuale By-Wire”, a system that, despite including a gear lever and clutch pedal, does not have a conventional manual gearbox.

In practice, the new system works as a command translator: neither the lever nor the clutch pedal have a mechanical connection with the transmission. Every movement made by the driver is instantly converted into electronic signals, which send orders to the model’s well-known eight-speed automated dual-clutch transmission (DCT). The mechanical set, in turn, remains unchanged: the aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine continues to deliver 830 hp and revs up to a shrill 9,500 rpm.

The challenge of Maranello’s engineering was to create a tactile experience faithful to what is expected of a manual transmission. To do this, the lever assembly — which weighs about 3.5 kg and is machined from a solid block of high-strength steel — uses Hall effect sensors and mechanical resistance mechanisms, such as springs and profiled drums, which simulate the “click” and weight characteristic of a traditional lever. There’s even an electromagnetic solenoid that physically locks the lever when the transmission doesn’t allow for shifting. According to the manufacturer, the noise of the mechanism itself has been calibrated to reinforce the feeling of authenticity, and the reverse is engaged as in classic Ferraris: pressing the lever down and taking it to the upper left position of the exposed grille.

Likewise, the electronic clutch pedal has a system of springs, cams and rollers that reproduces the effort curve and the cut-off point, even allowing the driver to do the famous “punta-tacco” — the technique of applying the accelerator and brake at the same time in downshifts — or that, in case of an error in dosage, the engine will die.

The manual mode acts in the first six gears and in reverse, can only be activated with the clutch pedal and completely eliminates the butterflies behind the steering wheel, something that has not happened in a Ferrari for many years. The system also allows the car to be operated in conventional automatic mode, or the driver to pre-select shifts with the lever — in this case, the digital panel anticipates the effect of the change on engine speed. It remains to be seen, with just the practical test, if this complex engineering is capable of delivering the same emotional connection that the traditional manual transmissions of yesteryear provided.