BMW is releasing a special edition of its sixth-generation M3 CS with a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, exclusively for the North American market. The 2027 M3 CS Handschalter is positioned as a driver-focused model, though it uses the standard M3's engine rather than the more powerful Competition version. This move is notable as it bucks the industry trend of phasing out manual transmissions in favor of automatics.
Background
The automotive industry has been moving away from manual transmissions in favor of automatic and dual-clutch transmissions, with many manufacturers phasing out manual options entirely. BMW's M division has been one of the few holdouts offering manual transmissions in performance models, though previously limited to standard M3 versions.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- May 18, 2026 at 10:33 PM
- Score
- 6.0 / 10