FERRARI has admitted what it got wrong when it pushed too far into high-tech territory.
The luxury brand is now backtracking after years of complaints from loyal drivers.
Ferrari is bringing back physical buttons instead of its high-tech touch controls[/caption]
Drivers had complained the touch-sensitive features were distracting and hard to use[/caption]
Its new direction kicks off with the just-unveiled Amalfi coupe, revealed in Italy.
Instead of touch-sensitive steering wheel controls, Ferrari is bringing back physical buttons, including its beloved red engine start.
The carmaker said the flashy digital design, introduced with the SF90 in 2019, didn’t match the reality of driving.
Drivers frequently triggered settings they never meant to use, like cruise control or menu scrolls, just by adjusting their grip.
Ferrari was eventually forced to program those features to deactivate after ten seconds to avoid constant mishaps.
Product development boss Gianmaria Fulgenzi confirmed the brand will reverse course, and owners of recent models can upgrade too.
“Yes, you can have it,” Fulgenzi told Top Gear when asked if the new steering wheel was compatible with the 296 GTB, Purosangue, SF90, and 12Cilindri.
“We don’t even have to replace the whole wheel. Just the center [boss],” he added.
He said any Ferrari dealer can carry out the retrofit without needing to ship the car back to Italy.
“Then we just do a short test drive to confirm all calibration is okay.”
Ferrari has said it received “very loud” feedback from customers who were fed up with overly sensitive controls.
Galliera explained the brand had good intentions when it introduced touch systems, aiming to make interactions faster and more seamless.
“When we interact with our phone, it’s a touch,” he said.
“But when you are also driving, too often it was hands on the wheel, and also eyes on the wheel.”
About the Ferrari Amalfi
From a statement released by Ferrari on July 1, 2025:
- “Introducing the Ferrari Amalfi, a new 2+ coupé featuring a front-mid-mounted twin-turbo V8 engine
- “The perfect blend of modern elegance and high performance makes the Ferrari Amalfi a unique car in the Ferrari line-up and on the market
- “The new Ferrari Amalfi is a sports car that evolves the Grand Tourer concept, capable of combining extremely high performance with great everyday versatility
- “640 cv turbo V8 engine with track-derived technologies and unmistakable sound: high performance and immediate response in all conditions
- “Sculpted design and high-tech interior with triple-display HMI, advanced onboard comfort, and premium audio system for an immersive experience”
Source: Ferrari
He admitted the result was “probably too advanced and not 100 percent perfect in use.”
Ferrari will now use a hybrid approach, keeping some digital features but restoring key physical controls where drivers want them most.
That includes the red start/stop button, which Galliera called “iconic” and essential to Ferrari’s legacy.
Design chief Flavio Manzoni added, “Beauty is simplicity,” hinting at the brand’s new strategy of minimalist, intuitive interiors.
The Amalfi, which replaces the Roma, is the first model to debut this revised layout and sets the tone for all new Ferraris moving forwards.
It still uses the Roma’s 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8 but is tuned to produce 631 horsepower with a lighter block, new turbos, and a fresh ECU.
Consumers found that the advanced haptic technology found the car hard to operate[/caption]
Ferrari addressed these concerns in the design of the latest Amalfi model[/caption]
Ferrari also included design updates to the grille and rear spoiler[/caption]
The 8-speed dual-clutch transmission remains but now runs on new software.
The Amalfi also gets the brand’s latest brake by wire system with ABS Evo, allowing for 9% shorter stopping distances.
Design-wise, Ferrari stripped the front of the car’s controversial grille and added a three-position active rear spoiler that produces 240 pounds of downforce at 155 mph, Road Track reported.
Inside, the vertical center screen is gone, replaced by a horizontal one, and the center console has been lowered to feel roomier.
US deliveries are expected in the third quarter of 2026 as a 2027 model.
Ferrari hasn’t revealed pricing, but the outgoing Roma coupe started above $240,000, and the Amalfi likely won’t come cheaper.
Customers don’t even have to travel to Italy to get the upgrades they may want[/caption]
