The BMW M3 is bowing out of its current generation with a sharp-edged sendoff that leans hard into old-school driver appeal. BMW is giving enthusiasts something rare in 2027: a limited M3 CS with a manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive, and the kind of hardware that turns a fast sedan into a proper event.
Under the hood sits the familiar twin-turbo 3.0-liter S58 inline-six, tuned to 473 hp and paired with a six-speed manual transmission. That setup sends power to the rear wheels, and BMW says the car can hit 60 mph in 4.1 seconds before running on to a top speed of 180 mph. It is a high-revving, hard-charging formula that keeps the car feeling alive, especially compared with the more sterilized performance cars crowding the market.
The big catch is exclusivity. BMW is building the 2027 M3 CS Handschalter only for North America, and pricing starts at $108,450 with destination included. The company has not said how many will be made, which only adds to the appeal for buyers who want something that feels scarce from day one.
BMW is also leaning into nostalgia with a few paint choices that tap straight into the M3 playbook. Techno Violet metallic and Imola Red are available as $4,500 options, giving the car a more emotional edge before it even starts moving. For buyers who want to go a little deeper, there is also an M Front Strut Brace for $1,100 and track tires for $600.
The Handschalter name is a clue to the car’s personality. It literally translates to “hand shift,” and that is the whole point here, a modern M3 built around the simple pleasure of changing gears yourself. In a world where automatics usually dominate performance cars, BMW is making a deliberate statement that the manual still matters.
The special edition comes with a long list of weight-saving and performance-focused changes that help it stand apart from the regular M3. A carbon hood and roof, forged alloy wheels, and a titanium muffler all help trim mass, and the car can be up to 75 pounds lighter than a non-CS M3 when the optional carbon-ceramic brakes are fitted. It also sits 6 mm lower, with suspension and steering tweaks aimed at making the car feel tighter on both pavement and track.
That extra edge does not come at the expense of basic comfort. Inside, the car gets standard M Carbon bucket seats wrapped in Merino leather, with heating and electric adjustment built in. Harman Kardon sound, dual-zone climate control, and park distance control are all included too, so this is still a real street car and not some stripped-out toy.
Optional extras keep nudging the car toward a more specialized feel without turning it into a bare-bones machine. A head-up display and power trunk release are on the list, while the overall package stays focused on the balance BMW M cars are known for. The formula feels especially meaningful now because this is the last chapter for the current sixth-generation M3, with production ending in the summer of 2027.
That timing matters, because BMW has already confirmed that the combustion-powered G84 successor will not offer a manual transmission. Once this car disappears, the manual M3 line will go with it, which gives the Handschalter a kind of instant collector energy. For drivers who still care about feel, sound, and a direct mechanical connection, that makes the 2027 M3 CS one of the most interesting M cars in years.
