Ferrari Targets Driving Purists With Limited-Edition V12 Manuale

Ferrari just introduced the 12Cilindri Manuale, a special edition of its front-engined V12 grand tourer for drivers who want more hands-on excitement. They’re only making 1,499 of these, and in Italy, it starts at €590,000, according to Reuters. Under the hood, you get a big, naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12, and the car uses Ferrari’s new “Manuale by-wire” system. That means you still get a gear stick and something that feels like a clutch pedal, so you’re shifting gears the old-school way, but the technology underneath is modern and electronic.

Ferrari designed this car for purists—the folks who still want to hear the engine roar, feel every shift, and have a direct connection with the machine. The Manuale by-wire system brings back some of that old manual-shifting experience, even though it’s not a traditional mechanical manual.

This launch hits at an interesting time for Ferrari. They’re proud of their gas-powered engine history, but they’re also slowly moving toward electrification. Reuters says Ferrari wants electric cars to make up 20% of its lineup by 2030, and the rest will be split between gas and hybrid models.

Limited editions like the 12Cilindri Manuale aren’t just about performance—they’re also about exclusivity. These models draw in collectors, keep the brand’s mystique alive, and show that, even as the industry leans electric, that old combustion-engine magic still matters to a lot of people.

By combining their legendary V12 with a fresh take on manual driving, Ferrari is zeroing in on a certain crowd—enthusiasts who want cutting-edge tech but still crave that raw, classic Ferrari experience. This car isn’t some step back from electrification. Instead, it’s Ferrari showing how they can offer different powertrains—gas, hybrid, electric—to suit all kinds of drivers as the automotive world evolves.