There are few details more iconic in the automotive world than the classic Ferrari gated shifter. Unfortunately, it's been more than a dozen years since that's been an option on a new car out of Maranello — but according to a recent report by Australian magazine Car Sales , Ferrari is mulling over the possibility of reintroducing it.
Gianmaria Fulgenzi, the head of product development at Ferrari, acknowledged that the performance of the company’s street vehicles has advanced to such an extent that these cars now operate near the boundaries of what a human body can endure—assuming this person hasn’t been specifically trained to manage those kinds of forces. Charles Leclerc or Pete "Maverick" Mitchell.
“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,” Fulgenzi said.
Ferrari sold over 13,000 cars Last year, and it’s safe to assume that most of these individuals were notFormula One drivers or fighter pilots. "I don't believe all our clients wish to undergo daily training merely to operate our vehicles," Fulgenzi commented further.
Therefore, once peak performance has been attained, what remains? Possibly, the reintroduction of manual transmissions could be next. Ferrari moved away from manual gearboxes as they pursued maximum performance. However, since this pinnacle of speed has now been realized, manual transmissions might return as a means to enhance driver involvement instead of relying solely on raw power for the driving experience.
He mentioned that when it comes to manual gear changes, this feature might be available in the future.
Keep in mind, you won’t find a traditional gated manual shift lever in the upcoming models like the 296 GTB or Roma. Fulgenzi mentioned that such a feature would be more fitting for Ferrari’s limited-edition Icona vehicles, which reinterpret the marque’s legacy with contemporary design elements. The previous entries in this special lineup consist of the Monza SP1 and SP2 as well as the Daytona SP3—each model being exceptionally rare even within Ferrari circles and commanding corresponding price tags.
There is no timeline for when a new Icona model with a manual transmission may be released or what that car would be called. However, just last month Lewis Hamilton said he wanted to Develop a successor to the F40 named the "F44." And he mentioned wanting it to have a manual transmission. Could this be the upcoming Ferrari model featuring a gated shifter? This concept appears increasingly plausible—and thrilling.
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