Latest news with #Fulgenzi
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ferrari Might Build Its First New Manual Transmission in Over a Decade
Ferrari could be about to make a lot of enthusiasts very happy. The Italian marque is considering bringing back the gated manual transmission following a decade-plus absence, according to Carsales. There's a catch, though. The coveted mechanical feature would only be available on special models. More from Robb Report Bill Gates's Former Waterfront Mansion in Florida Can Be Yours for $23.5 Million Inside a Stunning, Fire-Resistant Family Retreat on a Sunny Hilltop in NorCal's Wine Country Bermuda: Preserving the Past, Inspiring the Future In an interview with the magazine, Ferrari's chief product development officer, Gianmaria Fulgenzi, revealed that the company is 'reaching the limit of performance' with its road cars. That's not because the company can't wring more power out of its engines, but because its customers wouldn't be able to handle it—unless they were to put in the kind of training required of professional race car drivers. 'I don't think all our customers want to have to train every morning just to drive our cars,' he told the magazine. Ferrari hasn't sold a car with a third pedal since the California was discontinued back in 2012. The stick shift was sacrificed in the name of performance, so, at a time when the company has pushed things just about as they can go in that area, it makes sense that it's thinking about bringing the gearbox back. Fulgenzi said this would involve 'limiting performance' to manage the heavy clutch. If Ferrari does bring back the manual, don't expect it to be available line-wide. Fulgenzi made clear that the option would not be available on the company's standard production models. Instead, it would only be available on its more exclusive releases, like the Icona series. 'Probably an Icona car, because it's a car that represents our heritage, a car to be admired and to be driven in a certain way,' he said. Fulgazi also revealed that the marque hasn't reached this softened stance on its own. Unsurprisingly, the executive says that 'customers are already asking' for the company to bring back the manual. It's not hard to imagine a gated manual making the next Icona model even more desirable. Not that the seven-figure cars need much help on that front. At the very least, this all sounds like good news for Ferrari Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, who, earlier this season, expressed interest in helping the marque build an F40 tribute—with a manual. Best of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ferrari Could Bring Back the Stick Shift
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." 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 considering bringing it back. Gianmaria Fulgenzi, the chief product development officer at Ferrari, admitted that the performance of the company's road cars has reached a point where the cars have become so quick, they're on the limits of what a human body can handle — at least, a human who isn't trained to handle the forces like 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 say the vast majority of them did not go to Formula One drivers or fighter pilots. 'I don't think all our customers want to have to train every morning just to drive our cars,' Fulgenzi added. So, if peak performance has been achieved, what's left? A revival of the manual transmission, potentially,.. Ferrari went away from the manual transmission as they chased ultimate performance. But now that the ultimate level of performance has been reached, the manual transmission is back in play as a way to add engagement, rather than brute force, to the experience. "In terms of mechanical gearchanges, it's something that could be in the future," he said. That said, don't expect to see a gated stick in the successor to the 296 GTB or Roma. Fulgenzi said the classic manual would make most sense in the brand's limited-run Icona cars, which represent Ferrari's heritage through a modern lens. Previous cars in the Icona series include the Monza SP1 and SP2 and the Daytona SP3, all of which were highly exclusive (even by Ferrari standards) and carried pricetags to match. 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 build a follow up to the F40 called the "F44", and he said wants it to be equipped with a stick shift. Could that be the next Ferrari we see with a gated shifter? The idea seems more realistic (and exciting) than ever. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car Sign in to access your portfolio
