Ferrari Agrees: Touch-Sensitive Steering Wheel Buttons Were a Bad Idea
However, its most welcome feature is something refreshingly simple: proper physical, tactile buttons on the steering wheel.
With the Amalfi's arrival, Ferrari has officially backtracked on one of its most criticized decisions – its insistence on using touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel. Introduced on models like the SF90 and Roma, the system aimed to enhance modernity and performance, but instead left many owners fumbling through menus mid-drive or accidentally activating features while on a spirited drive.
Speaking to Top Gear, Ferrari marketing boss Enrico Galliera explained the company's reasoning behind the haptic controls, and its subsequent reversal.
"Our philosophy is always 'hands on the wheel, eyes on the road.' But we were finding people were having too much time with their eyes also on the wheel. We listened to our customers," he admitted.
He added that while touch controls may be faster on a smartphone, the experience in a moving supercar proved far less intuitive.
Galliera also acknowledged that Ferrari's HMI (human-machine interface) "was probably too advanced and not 100 percent perfect in use." The touch interface had been developed in pursuit of performance and speed, mirroring the ultra-fast SF90's hybrid system, but ultimately didn't match the needs of drivers in the real world. Now, Ferrari is "re-balancing, not changing" its design strategy.
Design chief Flavio Manzoni seconded the move. "Beauty is simplicity," he told Top Gear, reinforcing the notion that elegance and usability can – and should – coexist in a Ferrari.
Best of all, the tactile steering wheel buttons are not a feature locked to the new Amalfi. According to Ferrari's product development chief Gianmaria Fulgenzi, several existing models - including the 296 GTB, Purosangue, SF90, and 12Cilindri - can be retrofitted with the new steering wheel setup.
"Yes, you can have it," Fulgenzi told Top Gear. "We don't even have to replace the whole wheel. Just the center." The retrofit can be performed at any Ferrari dealer, and after a short test drive to verify calibration, drivers are good to go.
It's a rare move for a brand like Ferrari to admit fault so directly, but one that's bound to earn goodwill from customers who've long wanted the brand's supercars to get back to just being great to drive.
Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Italian Banking Group Banca Sella Pilots Stablecoin Custody With Fireblocks: Bloomberg
Banca Sella, an Italian banking group known for tech experiments, has begun an internal trial that lets a handful of employees hold crypto, including stablecoins, through custody software from Fireblocks. The trial runs until the end of the summer, after which executives will decide whether to open the vault to the group's 1.4 million customers who keep more than €66 billion ($77.5 billion) under custody, Bloomberg reports. Sella's test covers custody only. Trading in bitcoin or other volatile tokens is not on its roadmap, according to the story. Europe's clearer rules are nudging banks on the continent into the crypto space. Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy's largest bank, opened a spot bitcoin desk in January alongside a €1 million investment in the cryptocurrency. UniCredit, another Italian bank, is planning a capital-protected note linked to BlackRock's spot bitcoin ETF IBIT, while French banking giant Société Générale is launching a dollar-backed stablecoin two years after introducing a euro-backed stablecoin.
Indianapolis Star
an hour ago
- Indianapolis Star
Envirotech Delivers Fourth Bumble Bee Electric School Bus in Past 15 Days
HOUSTON, TX / ACCESS Newswire Envirotech Vehicles, Inc. (NASDAQ:EVTV) ('Envirotech,' 'EVT', or the 'Company') is pleased to announce the completed delivery of another EVT Bumble Bee electric school bus to Texas independent school districts. The bus was delivered this week to the Kopperl Independent School District ('Kopperl ISD') in Kopperl, Texas. Under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus ('CSB') Program-which was established to provide $5 billion over five years to replace existing fleets with zero-emission buses- $8,570,000 was awarded to cover the production and distribution of 25 electric school buses by Envirotech to school districts in Texas and Arkansas. 'We have now completed four bus deliveries in the past 15 days and expect to see growth in this segment continue to ramp up,' remarked Jason Maddox, President and Interim Chief Financial Officer of Envirotech. 'We express great thanks to the EPA for the Clean School Bus Program and look forward to additional school bus deliveries this year as well as the opportunity to potentially access additional grant funding to further expand this vertical in 2026.' The EVT Bumble Bee fast-charging 100% electric school bus has a proven range of up to 150 miles on a single charge with zero emissions and no noise pollution. It represents a significant improvement over conventional fossil fuel powered buses: Zero tailpipe emissions-students, drivers, and members of the community will be exposed to significantly less harmful diesel emissions like particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel school buses. Reduced maintenance costs due to regenerative braking and no engine or exhaust system. Potential for reduced fuel costs compared to diesel depending on electricity costs. Quiet, clean operation. Kopperl ISD Superintendent Katrina Adcock was present when Envirotech delivered the Bumble Bee electric school bus to the district. 'The bus was delivered this morning. It is super cool! Exciting times for Kopperl ISD and Bosque County.' For more information on the CSB Program please visit the EPA program website at: Business owners and potential strategic partners interested in learning about Envirotech's technology offering are invited to visit the Company's website and can contact the Company through the website at About Envirotech Vehicles Envirotech Vehicles, Inc. (NASDAQ:EVTV) is a technology company dedicated to revolutionizing the electric vehicle landscape by designing and manufacturing electric commercial vehicles that offer sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective transportation solutions. Committed to driving the future of mobility, Envirotech is pushing the boundaries of innovation and sustainability. For more information, visit Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Statements made in this press release that relate to future plans, events, financial results, prospects, or performance are forward-looking statements and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the proposed delivery of additional EVT electric school buses, future grants under the CSB Program towards EVT electric school buses, and the intended benefits and performance of EVT electric school buses. While they are based on the current expectations and assumptions and beliefs of management, such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in this press release. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others, Envirotech's ability to successfully deliver electric vehicles, Envirotech's ability to maintain compliance with The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC listing requirements, and the other risks and uncertainties disclosed in reports filed by Envirotech with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available online at All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including statements containing the words 'will,' 'estimated,' 'planned,' 'expected,' 'believes,' 'strategy,' 'opportunity,' 'anticipated,' 'outlook,' 'designed,' and similar words. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, Envirotech undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, changed circumstances, or unanticipated events. CONTACT: Envirotech Vehicles, Inc. Merrick Alpert, Chief Communications Officer Telephone: (870) 970-3355 Email: merrick@ SOURCE: Envirotech Vehicles, Inc.
Miami Herald
4 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Range Rover Sport SV Now Full-Time With 626 HP and £140k Price
The Range Rover Sport SV, once a limited-edition headline act, is now sticking around for good. Following the success of the Edition One and Edition Two models, Land Rover has confirmed that the 626-horsepower SV will now be offered as a full production model, slotting in as the flagship performance version of the Range Rover start at £139,995 (around $182,000), while a new variant - the SV Black - raises the bar further with a stealthy aesthetic and even more performance. That one will set buyers back £154,975 or north of $210,000 at current exchange rates. From Special Edition To Showroom Mainstay Originally revealed as a limited-run performance SUV in 2023, the Range Rover Sport SV immediately made waves for its mix of brutal pace and high-end luxury. It features a BMW-sourced 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, producing 626 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque on overboost. The result is a 2.5-tonne SUV capable of launching from 0–60 mph in just 3.8 seconds - or 3.6 seconds in SV Black makes it the fastest and most powerful Range Rover Sport ever built, and a serious rival to the Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, and BMW X5 M Competition. Carbon, Ceramics, And 6D Dynamics Beyond the headline figures, the SV boasts serious hardware. 6D Dynamics tech uses cross-linked hydraulic dampers to reduce pitch and dive under braking and acceleration - all without traditional anti-roll bars. In SV mode, the ride height drops by 15mm for a sharper stance and flatter power comes courtesy of carbon ceramic brakes, while optional 23-inch carbon wheels shave off unsprung weight. Land Rover claims they're 41% lighter than standard alloys, improving both handling and ride there's no shortage of Range Rover luxury: Body & Soul seats come with built-in haptic feedback (via SUBPAC tech), high-grade leathers, and a full suite of tech and comfort features. It's just as much a long-distance cruiser as it is a back-road bruiser. SV Black: Murdered Out And Even Faster For those who find the standard SV a bit too subtle, Land Rover now offers the SV Black - finished in Narvik Gloss Black with a carbon hood, black calipers, gloss black quad exhausts, and 23-inch forged wheels. Inside, buyers get Ebony Windsor leather, gloss black trim, and illuminated gets a slight bump too: the SV Black hits 180 mph and cuts the 0–60 mph time to 3.6 seconds, thanks in part to reduced weight and aero tweaks. Verdict With the SV now part of the full-time lineup, Land Rover is giving more buyers access to one of its most extreme performance models to date. It's no longer an invitation-only special - it's a production halo car aimed at stealing market share from the ultra-premium performance SUV still a 2.5-tonne luxury tank. It's still hilariously quick. And now, if you've got $200,000 burning a hole in your bank account, you can actually go and order one. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
