While Ferrari plans to present six new models in 2025including the 296 Speciale already unveileda rumour is starting to stir up the purists: what if one of the five remaining models was equipped with a manual gearbox? A hypothesis that seemed unthinkable until recently, but could well become reality with a surprise supercar: the Ferrari SP4, potentially from the Icona range.
A Ferrari SP4 to pay tribute to the F40?
If the rumors are to be believed, the SP4 is designed as a tribute to the legendary Ferrari F40, launched in 1987. A legendary model in terms of design, radicalism and raw philosophy, the F40 has never been replaced in the minds of fans (even by the F50 and F80). And to pay tribute, Ferrari may well rely on an old-fashioned recipe: neo-retro design, pure performance, and above all... manual gearbox.
According to the well-informed Instagram account @iliasabawi, a prototype based on the SF90 has been spotted testing on the Fiorano circuit, with a manual gearbox. The prototype in question is said to have tinted windows to hide the gearshift paddles, and the instagrammer recognized the distinctive sound of the manual clutch. A return to basics which, according to the account, is motivated by growing demand from Ferrari customers.
An exception in the current Ferrari range?
For over ten years, all new Ferraris have been equipped with automatic or dual-clutch gearboxes. The last model to be produced with a manual gearbox was the Ferrari California, of which only 2 were delivered with a 6-speed gearbox. Previous models include the 599 GTB Fiorano (30 examples with mecha gearboxes), the F430, and the 612 Scaglietti, offered in the 2000s with the famous "H"-shaped metal grille that delighted purists.
This technical choice was not insignificant: with the constant increase in power and performance, Ferrari had opted for faster, more efficient automated transmissions. But today's luxury car market is changing. Rarity and emotional involvement are taking precedence over the simple stopwatch. Customers want to feel their car, not just admire it.
An SP4 with manual gearbox: will Ferrari dare?
If the Ferrari SP4 does exist, it will join the Icona range, which already includes the Monza SP1/SP2 and the Daytona SP3. Produced in ultra-limited series, it would be aimed at a public of demanding collectors. This type of customer is no longer looking for the best performance on the track, but for a unique experience, a rolling objet d'art, a rare emotion. And what could be rarer than a modern Ferrari with a manual gearbox?
Technically, some wonder whether this SP4 would use a non-hybrid V8, like the F40, or a special version of the hybrid V8 already seen in the SF90? Or would it use the V12 from the 812 Superfast? In any case, it could be revealed this year, even if production of the Daytona SP3 is still underway. As a reminder, the Daytona SP3 was presented in November 2021 and has been in production since the end of 2022. A presentation at the end of 2025 is a reasonable possibility.
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