Ferrari has filed a patent for an electronic clutch pedal intended for road cars. The concept aims to retain the feel of a manual transmission while relying on digital control.
In a conventional car, the pedal disengages the engine from the transmission via a cable, rod, or hydraulic system. In Ferrari's design, electronics handle this task. However, the company focused on the tactile experience, ensuring the pedal depresses and returns like a real clutch.
The patent describes a mechanism featuring a piston, a spring, and a specially shaped cam profile. As the pedal is pressed, resistance increases, and the contact surface's shape helps mimic the behavior of a traditional clutch assembly. Sensors track pedal position and send commands to the control system.
Ferrari has not specified which powertrain this technology targets. The pedal could work with a conventional internal combustion engine, a robotic gearbox, an automatic, or even an electric vehicle, where it would simulate gear changes.
Koenigsegg has previously used similar technology, but for Ferrari, this is a way to restore an emotional connection to the car in an era of digital systems. In the 2026 sports car segment, such solutions could become an alternative to the traditional manual gearbox, which has all but disappeared from modern supercars.