Which Ferrari model was the first to feature a dual-clutch transmission?

The Ferrari California was the first Ferrari model to feature a dual-clutch transmission. Introduced for the 2009 model year after its 2008 unveiling, the front-mid-engined grand tourer used a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox supplied by Getrag.

The transmission was a major technical step for Ferrari. Unlike the single-clutch automated manuals used in several earlier Ferraris, a dual-clutch system can preselect the next gear, allowing faster shifts with less interruption to power delivery. That suited the California’s role as a more comfortable, versatile Ferrari while still giving it rapid acceleration.

The California combined a retractable hardtop, a 2+2 cabin and a naturally aspirated V8. Those features made it quite different from Ferrari’s sharper mid-engined sports cars, but its gearbox technology soon spread through the range. The 458 Italia, launched shortly afterward, used a sportier calibration of the same basic dual-clutch concept.

A frequent mix-up is naming the 458 Italia because it became more famous for the technology. It was not the first Ferrari to use a dual-clutch transmission; that distinction belongs to the California.