Could the dream of a Ferrari F44 with three pedals become real?
There’s been a subtle shift in the rarefied air of hypercar development. After years of chasing stratospheric horsepower and eye-watering top speeds, it seems the super-rich are now chasing something a little more… analogue. And Ferrari, of all brands, appears to be listening.
Speaking to Carsales Australia, Ferrari’s Chief of Product Development, Gianmaria Fulgenzi, suggested the Prancing Horse could reintroduce a manual gearbox — but only for a limited-run model. It is not a mass-production car, mind you, but it is likely one of its exclusive Icona series cars.
So, what’s changed?
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Ferrari’s current hypercars, like the SF90, are at the edge of performance that mere mortals can realistically handle — unless you’re also casually training for F1.
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Fulgenzi hinted at mechanical gear changes being a future possibility “depending on the product.”
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Translation: expect it on an ultra-limited collector's car, not your everyday Roma or 296 GTB.
Why now?
The market has been inching back toward engagement over raw numbers. Case in point: Porsche brought back the manual gearbox to its 911 GT3 lineup after customer demand. Ferrari hasn’t offered one since the original California (2008), where only 3 out of ~10,000 cars were ordered with a manual.
: Lewis Hamilton’s F44 idea
Add a layer of intrigue: new Ferrari signing Lewis Hamilton recently said he’d like to design a limited-run, F40-inspired Ferrari — complete with a manual gearbox — called the F44. Pure fantasy? Maybe not. Fulgenzi’s comments now make it sound more like a possibility than a pipe dream.
What Could This Mean for India?
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Likely nothing for the average enthusiast (unless your net worth starts with a 9 and ends with multiple zeros).
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But for collectors or brands looking to recapture the tactile thrills of older Ferraris, this could be a game-changer — even if just symbolically.
