BMW says goodbye to the sixth-gen M3 with this lightweight, rear-drive CS that's also the only one to ever have three pedals.
The Handschalter is the first M3 CS with a manual transmission, and BMW also claims it's roughly 75 pounds lighter than the regular M3. The rear-drive stick-shift M3 CS will only be sold in the United States, and it'll carry a $108,450 starting price.
Germans are generally known as rule followers. But BMW is breaking the mold by rebelling against its own tradition and finally giving the track-focused M3 CS three pedals and a six-speed manual transmission. Enter the 2027 BMW M3 CS Handschalter, a limited-production special edition that's both a purist's delight and a send-off to the six-generation M3. Handschalter is German for "hand shift," so naturally, that's the only way this new M3 CS is configured.
Not only is the Handschalter the first M3 CS ever offered with a stick shift, but its all-wheel-drive system is swapped for a pure rear-drive setup. However, unlike the AWD, automatic-equipped M3 CS, which features a 543-hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter straight-six, the RWD Handschalter has the same 473-hp version of that engine as the regular manual-transmission M3.
Still, BMW claims the hand-shifted CS can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, and if you keep your foot glued to the floor, the sports sedan will top out at 180 mph. To be clear, the Handschalter is more than just a manual M3 with some CS badges. BMW took extra measures to drop some pounds, shedding up to around 75 pounds compared with the regular M3.
The weight savings come from the optional carbon-ceramic brakes, the forged wheels, the exhaust's titanium muffler, and the standard M carbon racing-style front seats. For an additional $1100, you can add a lightweight strut-tower brace for increased rigidity.
The Handschalter treatment also includes a slightly lower ride height than your run-of-the-mill M3, and it inherits dampers fromAlong with a frameless kidney grille and yellow daytime running lights, the M3 CS Handschalter features exposed carbon fiber on the roof, the stripe-like details on the hood, and various other exterior and interior surfaces. There are also only four paint options: Isle of Man Green and Black Sapphire metallic are free, but Imola Red and Techno Violet each cost $4500.
Inside, the sedan's desktop-like dashboard is the default layout. Every model has passive entry, dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a Harman Kardon sound system. Those who want the available head-up display and power-operated trunk lid will have to pay up for the Daily Driver package. BMW says the M3 CS Handschalter will begin production in July, though the automaker hasn't disclosed how many copies will be made, only saying that the quantity will be "very limited.
" The cars will only be sold in the United States, and each will have a $108,450 starting price. The first deliveries are slated for sometime this fall. Eric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more forsince 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection.
Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off whenhired him.
His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual '97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a '90 Honda CRX Si.
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