A complete transmission swap is required, but a prototype of the vehicle is already in development
Ferrari might not be saving manuals but there is a Texas shop that isn’t ready to give up the three-pedal arrangement of Prancing Horses yet. European Auto Group, based in San Antonio, has already been credited with installing a six speed manual into an F430 Scuderia. But now the company is going a little further. The video shows that a 458 Italia is getting a more sexy look. You shift with your right hand and your left foot a clutch pedal.
This information was provided by Carbuzz. Ferrari enthusiasts know that the 458 did not have a manual. It was the first mid-engine Ferrari to abandon the gated shifter and replace it with a paddle-shift dual clutch. The F430 Scuderia didn’t have a stick, but the standard Ferrari 430 did. Therefore, a conversion is only possible with revised linkages and a standard-issue transmission. An entirely new transmission is needed for the 458, however.
Why bother with all of this? Carbuzz talked with European Auto Group to learn that this niche company has customers who are very hungry for manual-shifted Ferraris. According to reports, orders are flying off the shelves for F430 conversions and for 458 manual swaps. The company has a prototype 458, but it is not expected to be finished for several months. European Auto Group has not provided any details about the transmission used. The transmission is said to be rare, but European Auto Group says that only 10 or 11 swaps are planned.
Dual-clutch gearboxes are able to swap cogs more quickly and efficiently than traditional stick-and-clutch systems, but this doesn’t mean that driving a well-crafted manual is less enjoyable or engaging. Given the Ferrari passion and heritage, it is easy to see dedicated owners making such a drastic 458 modification. It’s not cheap, but that’s another secret.