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Lamborghini Rules Out Manual Gearbox Revival Despite Ferrari’s Move, Says Executive
Deepa Krishnaswamy | July 15, 2026 3:15 PM CST

The debut of the Ferrari 12Cilindri Manuale took many by surprise, reintroducing a gated, though electronically managed, shifter into the Maranello lineup after a long hiatus. Naturally, enthusiasts began to wonder if Lamborghini might follow a similar path.

“There are a few customers who still love this kind of thing,” explained Lamborghini’s Chief Marketing and Sales Officer, Federico Foschini, during a conversation with Road & Track at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. “And I think it’s an opportunity ... but it’s not the trend. Because that kind of—let’s say—performance and driving engagement, you cannot experience with this type of gearbox, you know?”

Our attention was caught when Foschini described the manual gearbox as “an opportunity.” However, acknowledging niche customer demand is one thing; developing and manufacturing a manual transmission is quite another. Foschini noted that one of the main reasons Lamborghini is unlikely to pursue this is its close alignment with motorsport trends. “And this trend [in racing] at the moment is focused mainly on hybridisation, and [the] automatic gearbox, with [the] possibility to have paddle-controlled shifting at the wheel,” he explained. “That’s the direction I think we need to go.”

In short, enthusiasts shouldn’t expect a manual transmission Lamborghini anytime soon. Foschini also highlighted that Ferrari’s 12Cilindri Manuale is a limited-run model, not a regular production vehicle.

There’s no denying that demand still exists for manual transmissions in high-end sports cars and supercars. For instance, in the United States, the take rate for manual versions of the Porsche 911 GT3 hovers around 70 percent, showing that when a manual option is offered, it resonates with buyers.

Aside from discussing transmissions, Foschini also spoke about the potential for reviving more of Lamborghini’s heritage nameplates following the return of the Countach. However, he clarified that any such revival would need to be truly special and representative of the brand’s essence.

“Maybe in the future we’ll find another model that can be just as inspiring,” Foschini said. “But normally, we are not used to taking old models and bringing them into the present—revising them just for the sake of having them in modern times. But if there’s a special meaning—like with the Countach—we’ll do it.”

In other words, Lamborghini isn’t completely ruling out reviving iconic models. Rumours already suggest that a Miura-inspired tribute built on the Revuelto platform could be unveiled during this year’s Monterey Car Week.

When discussing current models, Foschini expressed optimism about a potential new Sterrato derivative. The Huracan Sterrato proved to be such an unexpectedly enjoyable creation that it would be surprising if it remained Lamborghini’s only off-road-focused supercar. “I think that also the Revuelto can be sold,” Foschini remarked, referring to applying the Sterrato concept to other models. “But if you have to choose one of the two supersport cars, it’s the Temerario, just as it was with the Huracan. This is the best candidate—in terms of daily usability, engine, and overall concept.”

We agree that the smaller Temerario would be a more logical base for an off-road-oriented variant, though a rugged version of the V-12-powered Revuelto would be equally fascinating. Foschini didn’t completely dismiss the idea of a tougher Urus either. While the Urus already offers some off-road capability, a version with all-terrain tyres and more adventurous styling could round out Lamborghini’s Sterrato-inspired lineup nicely.

As for what’s immediately ahead, Lamborghini is expected to reveal a new Revuelto variant at Pebble Beach and introduce another version of the Temerario before the end of 2026. Both will focus on high performance—think faster lap times rather than off-road capability. According to Foschini, the upcoming Revuelto represents “a huge improvement in terms of performance” and boasts a design that is “really, really cool.” As expected, it’s shaping up to be every bit the extreme V-12-powered Lamborghini fans would hope for.


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