Ferrari appeals to traditionalists with new V12 manual gearbox limited edition

MILAN, July 3 (Reuters) - Ferrari launched a limited-edition 12-cylinder model with a manual gearbox on Friday, appealing to traditional fans of roaring petrol engines and hands-on driving after the mixed initial reception for its first electric vehicle.

Ferrari's 12Cilindri Manuale - a special series of 2024's 12Cilindri model - introduces a new 'Manuale by-wire' system designed to offer an authentic manual driving experience with a gear stick, while retaining the advantages of modern dual-clutch transmissions, the company said.

Limited to 1,499 units, the front-engined grand tourer targets loyal Ferrari customers seeking a more physical driving experience rooted in the brand's heritage.

It will have a price tag in Italy starting from €590,000 ($672,000), with first deliveries to customers scheduled in the first quarter of next year.

MANUAL V12 FOLLOWS CRITICISM FOR LUCE EV

The new special series comes little over a month after Ferrari introduced the divisive Luce, its first fully electric model - an historic milestonefor the Italian marque, but one that drew a muted response from some enthusiasts accustomed to a trademark engine sound and analogue feel.

Priced at €550,000, the Luce has sparked widespread criticism and a wave of unflattering social media memes, focused both on its unconventional styling and Ferrari's embrace of electric technology.

But with the 12Cilindri Manuale, Ferrari is putting the emphasis back on its core traits, as the new car pairs a naturally aspirated 6.5-litre V12 engine delivering 830 horsepower with a three-pedal layout, placing "the relationship between driver input, mechanics, and control at the heart of the driving experience".

PETROL AND HYBRID MODELS DOMINATE FERRARI LINE-UP

The 12Cilindri Manuale also highlights the breadth of Ferrari's portfolio, where electrification remains only one strand. 

Alongside the electric Luce, its current line-up features a wide mix of petrol and hybrid models, track-focused cars and traditional V12 flagships, also including the four-door, four-seater Purosangue. 

Ferrari has pledged to continue offering combustion-engine cars alongside new technologies: EV models are due to make up only 20% of its line-up by 2030, according to the company's business plan, while the remaining 80% will be equally split between petrol and hybrid ones.

($1 = 0.8776 euros)

(Reporting by Giulio PiovaccariEditing by Keith Weir)