Designed with purists in mind, BMW is saying goodbye to the sixth-generation, G80 M3 with the M3 CS Handschalter special edition.
Showcasing what we can expect from the next 3 Series, BMW revealed the new i3, which has been confirmed for Mzansi in 2027, in March 2026. Now, while we wait for the official debut of the former, the news that an M halo variant of the latter is already in the works, likely to be named ‘i3 M’, arguably means that the current, sixth-generation M3, which we’ve driven in March 2021, will soon bow out for the seventh iteration.
So, to bid the sixth generation goodbye, BMW has unveiled a new limited edition … and it comes in the shape of the M3 CS Handschalter. What does “Handschalter” mean, we hear you ask? Well, according to Google, “manual transmission”.
The German marque’s send-off to the G80 M3, the M3 CS Handschalter was designed with purists in mind. Available in limited numbers, with each (quite unfortunately) exclusive to the North American market, the M3 CS Handschalter, however, not only sports a six-speed manual transmission, but also adopts a rear-wheel drivetrain. As a reminder, the G80 M3 CS exclusively employs a (rear wheel-biased) all-wheel-drive system paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
The M3 CS Handschalter isn’t as powerful as the latter model, though. Indeed, while it is powered by the same 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine, the M3 CS Handschalter is endowed with 52 kW and 100 N.m less power and torque, at 353 kW and 550 N.m — the former and latter available from 6 250 r/min, and between 2 630 and 6 130 r/min, respectively.
According to BMW, the rear-wheel-drive M3 CS sprints to the three-figure marker from a standstill in 4.2 seconds. Equipped with the Bavarian brand’s M Driver’s Package as standard, the M3 CS Handschalter’s top speed comes in at 290 km/h.
The M3 CS Handschalter is equipped with BMW’s M Compound braking system as standard. The firm’s M Carbon Ceramic setup is available at additional cost … for customers desiring enhanced stopping power. This special-edition BMW’s 19-inch front and 20-inch aft forged alloy wheels are wrapped in 275/35 ZR19 and 285/30 ZR20 tyres, respectively.
