- North America is getting a special BMW M3 CS known as the Handschalter.
- The sedan sports a six-speed manual transmission and is rear-wheel drive.
- Power has dropped from 543 hp to 473 hp, and torque has dropped by 73 lb-ft.
The current M3 is on its way out, and BMW has decided to honor that with a CS variant aimed straight at the purists. Called the Handschalter, it looks the part of any other M3 CS, but it is the only one paired exclusively with a six-speed manual and rear-wheel drive.
BMW last attached the Handschalter badge to the Z4 M40i a couple of years back, and that car also came with a stick. The M3 version will be built in what the company describes as “very limited numbers” starting in July, with the official reveal scheduled for May 23 at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.
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Like the regular M3 CS, this version is powered by BMW’s 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six. However, whereas the standard model delivers 543 hp, the Handschalter has been restricted to 473 hp, the same as the regular rear-wheel-drive M3. Torque has also been cut from the all-wheel drive CS’s 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) to 406 lb-ft (550 Nm).
An M3 For Real Driving Enthusiasts
While it’s a bummer to see power reduced so significantly, this version is the lightest M3 in the range, weighing almost 75 lbs (34 kg) less than a standard rear-wheel-drive M3 when fitted with the optional M carbon ceramic brakes. The changes don’t stop with a new transmission and rear-wheel drive, either.
BMW has tuned the car’s steering, chassis, and engine response specifically for this version. Additionally, it has distinctive wheel camber settings and uses the same shocks as the M4 CSL. The run to 60 mph (96 km/h) takes 4.1 seconds, and the top speed is limited to 180 mph (290 km/h).
The carbon-fiber catalogue inside and out mirrors what’s on offer for the standard CS. This includes carbon on the roof, hood, front splitter, mirror caps, rear diffuser, and rear spoiler, while the interior features standard M Carbon bucket seats. Buyers will be able to order the car in either Isle of Man Green or Black Sapphire metallic at no charge, while optional shades of Imola Red and Techno Violet metallic each cost $4,500.
Set to be sold exclusively in North America, the 2027 BMW M3 CS Handschalter will start at $107,100, plus a $1,350 destination and handling fee. That compares to $79,300 for the entry 473 hp 2027 M3 sedan and $118,700 for the 543hp 2024 M3 CS sedan in its final year on sale.
