Ferrari Creates a Fake Manual Transmission

3 hours ago

Ferrari is reintroducing the manual transmission experience with their new 12Cilindri Manuale, using a 'fake' manual that combines mechanical and digital elements.
The car features a steel gear shift gate, aluminum gearknob with LEDs, and sensors on the gear lever and clutch for 'by-wire' activation with mechanical feedback.
The clutch pedal provides authentic resistance via a spring, cam, and roller, while the gear lever includes a kinematic mechanism for weighted feedback and acoustic engineering for a classic 'snick' sound.
This six-speed manual simulation is overlaid on an actual eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT), allowing drivers to switch to automatic mode for higher gears and relaxed cruising.
The article questions whether this simulated experience equates to good user experience (UX), highlighting a trend toward digital artifice over purist mechanics.
Comments express skepticism, noting that manual enthusiasts may not be fooled, and automatic users might ignore the feature, raising questions about the target audience.

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