Ferrari is pulling back from its aggressive electrification push after a backlash from loyalists who balked at the Italian marque’s plans to phase in battery power across its line-up, with the brand instead doubling down on the combustion-engined formula that built its reputation.

The shift comes as Ferrari’s new 12Cilindri — a front-engined V12 grand tourer that has become the poster child of the brand’s pivot back to tradition — draws attention not for any electric credentials but for the opposite: a renewed embrace of naturally aspirated power and, reportedly, the option of a manual gearbox, a feature long thought extinct in Ferrari’s modern range.

For years, Ferrari had signalled that electrification was inevitable, flagging hybrid and fully electric models as central to its future as emissions regulations tightened around the world. The company even confirmed a dedicated electric Ferrari was in the works, positioning it as proof the brand could adapt to a zero-emissions era without losing its soul. But the response from enthusiasts, collectors and prospective buyers has been anything but enthusiastic, with many describing the push toward silent, battery-powered supercars as a betrayal of everything the marque stands for — the scream of a high-revving V12 being, for many, inseparable from the Ferrari experience itself.

That sentiment appears to have been heard in Maranello. Rather than pressing ahead with a rapid wholesale shift to electric power, Ferrari has been recalibrating its strategy, leaning back into the combustion engines, manual options and visceral driving experiences that have defined the brand for decades. The 12Cilindri, with its naturally aspirated V12 and nod to old-school driver engagement, is being read by industry watchers as a statement of intent: Ferrari is not abandoning its future electric ambitions entirely, but it is not willing to alienate its core buyers in the meantime.

The reaction among critics and fans alike has been striking, with some labelling the about-face “outrageous” given how firmly Ferrari had previously committed to an electrified future. Others see it as a necessary correction, arguing that no amount of technological progress can replace the emotional connection buyers have with a roaring V12 engine and a stick shift under their hand.

Whether this recalibration signals a permanent retreat from full electrification or simply a slower, more cautious transition remains to be seen. But for now, Ferrari appears to be betting that nostalgia, noise and driver involvement still sell better than silence.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

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