Remember when we reported that Ferrari would bring back the manual transmission for the 12Cilindri? As it turns out, the Prancing Horse did bring it back, but with a twist.

Say buon giorno to the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale, and from its namesake, it pairs the 6.0L naturally aspirated V12 with a manual gearbox, complete with a clutch pedal and a gated shifter. But if you thought this was a proper manual transmission, it’s more of an imitation rather than the real thing.

That’s because the 6-speed gated manual shifter and clutch pedal you see inside the 12Cilindri is called the “Manuale By-Wire”, which recreates the same sensation as using a traditional manual transmission. That’s right, this still has the 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox as the regular 12Cilindri, but drivers can drive the Manuale like a proper manual-operated vehicle.

So how was Ferrari able to do it? Well, despite having a manual shifter, there is no mechanical connection between the shifter, the clutch pedal, and the transmission. Instead, the clutch and gear shifter make use of sensors and electronic control modules that mimic the sensation of a manual gearbox. In fact, Ferrari claimed they made sure the system feels authentic, which was designed to replicate the loads and sensations one would feel when operating a manual transmission, including synchronization and gear engagement.

Moreover, the system can also imitate experiencing a stall or a mis-shift in case the driver messes up a gear change or lets go of the clutch too early. But unlike true manuals where you can over-rev the engine in case you “moneyshift”, the system will prevent accidental downshifts.

If you’re done using the manual, you can set the transmission to automatic mode, which turns it back into an 8-speed DCT. That’s right, you can only play with a total of six gears when in manual mode since the eight speeds can only be accessed while in automatic mode.

Despite playing around with the gearbox, the 12Cilindri Manuale still comes with the mighty 6.0L naturally aspirated V12, which delivers 830 PS at 9250 rpm and 678 Nm of torque at 7250 rpm. It can still go from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, reach 200 km/h from a standstill in less than 7.9 seconds, and reach a top speed of over 340 km/h.

To make the 12Cinlindri Manuale stand out from the regular 12Cilindri, there will only be a total of 1,499 examples made. Moreover, it will come standard with Ferrari’s Tailor Made details. This gives the 12Cilindri heritage-inspired stripes, forged alloy wheels, optional liveries, and even a laser-etched badge to remind everyone you have Tailor Made exclusive features.

While we were expecting Ferrari to build a proper manual V12, the brand went for something even more unique that will surely be talked about and perhaps debated in the years to come.

Are you a fan of the 12Cilindri Manuale or would you prefer a traditional 6-speed gated manual gearbox?