BMW M3 CS Handschalter Is A Manual-Only, RWD Send-Off For Sixth-Gen M3

German carmaker BMW has revealed the M3 CS Handschalter as a limited-run farewell to the sixth-generation G80 M3, marking the first time the CS variant has ever been offered with a manual gearbox.

Handschalter is German for manual shift. The BMW M3 CS Handschalter is exclusive to the US and Canada, with pricing starting at $107,100 (roughly Rs 1.04 crore) before taxes and duties.

BMW M3 CS Handschalter - Engine & Performance

The M3 CS Handschalter is powered by the S58 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 473hp and 550Nm, paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox driving the rear wheels. BMW claims a 0-100km/h time of 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 290km/h.

Chassis tuning is specific to the Handschalter, with ride height lowered 6mm via new springs and a revised rear axle link. Dampers are carried over from the more extreme M4 CSL. Carbon fibre additions reduce kerb weight by 20kg over the standard M3. Opting for the carbon-ceramic brake package sheds a further 14kg.

BMW M3 CS Handschalter - Design & Features

The body of the BMW M3 CS Handschalter is unchanged from the standard M3, but the Handschalter gets yellow snake-eye LED DRLs in place of the regular white units. The frameless kidney grille wears red surrounds and an M3 CS badge, typical of CS models.

Carbon fibre covers the roof, bonnet, air intakes, front splitter, ORVM covers, spoiler and diffuser. Gloss-black elements finish the grille and side skirts. Wheels are forged alloys in a staggered setup: 19-inch front, 20-inch rear.

Four exterior colours are offered: Isle of Man Green, Black Sapphire, Imola Red and Techno Violet. Imola Red and Techno Violet carry an additional cost.

Inside, a 14.9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital driver's display sit in a curved layout. New M Carbon bucket seats at the front are lighter and offer improved lateral support over the standard chairs.

BMW's M Drive Professional suite is standard, adding 10-stage M Traction Control, M Drift Analyser and M Laptimer. Three-zone climate control, heated and powered front seats, and a 16-speaker Harman Kardon system are also included.