bmw thinks the current m3 will probably be the last one with a manualThe clock is officially ticking for the current BMW M3.BMW has confirmed the sixth-generation "G80" M3 will end production after the 2027 model year, marking the beginning of a major transition for one of the brand's most important performance cars. The news also signals something enthusiasts have feared for years: the manual-transmission M3 is nearing extinction.Speaking with BimmerLife, BMW Product Planning Specialist Scott Stirling confirmed the current-generation M3's run is coming to a close. Stirling also played a key role in getting the recently announced M3 CS Handschalter approved for production - a limited-run, manual-only special edition built specifically for North America as the G80's final sendoff.bmw thinks the current m3 will probably be the last one with a manualInternally, the upcoming next-generation gasoline-powered M3 is reportedly codenamed G84 and is expected to arrive sometime in 2028. According to reports, production will also move away from BMW's historic Munich facility to the Dingolfing plant, making it the first gasoline-powered M3 built outside Munich.AdvertisementAdvertisementBut the bigger shift may involve what powers the next M3 - and how drivers interact with it.BMW has already confirmed an electric M3 is on the way. The fully electric model, known internally as the ZA0, is expected to enter production next year and will reportedly use a quad-motor setup capable of producing massive power figures. BMW has also previewed simulated engine sounds and artificial gear changes designed to mimic traditional combustion performance cars.The gasoline-powered M3, meanwhile, is expected to stick with a twin-turbocharged inline-six engine, though BMW has hinted it will use a heavily updated powertrain featuring mild-hybrid assistance to meet increasingly strict global emissions standards.What may not survive is the manual transmission.bmw thinks the current m3 will probably be the last one with a manualRumors surrounding the next-generation M3 suggest BMW will offer it exclusively with an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. If true, the recently unveiled M3 CS Handschalter could effectively become some of the last manual, rear-wheel-drive M3s ever built.AdvertisementAdvertisementBMW M boss Frank van Meel recently acknowledged the growing difficulty of keeping manual gearboxes alive in modern performance cars. Development costs remain high, demand continues shrinking, and suppliers are becoming less interested in building new manual transmissions for a rapidly shrinking market segment.Modern automatics also deliver better fuel economy, faster acceleration, and lower emissions - all critical factors as automakers face tighter regulations worldwide.The current M2 and M4 are both expected to remain in production for several more years and will continue offering six-speed manual options for now. But even those models are unlikely to survive into the next decade unchanged.That makes the remaining window for buyers surprisingly short.bmw thinks the current m3 will probably be the last one with a manualIf reports are accurate and G80 M3 production ends in early 2027, order books for manual M3 models may close sometime next year. The limited-production M3 CS Handschalter enters production this July and will be sold only in the United States and Canada.AdvertisementAdvertisementPricing for the special edition starts at $108,450 before options, though buyers can still pick up a standard manual M3 starting around $80,650.Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.
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