BMW M3 CS Handschalter Is a Future UnicornBMW (BMW)Most new cars, as we all should know by now, depreciate. The moment you drive off the lot in your never-before-titled ride, sitting proudly in a seat un-besmirched by other butts, the value of your vehicle generally loses thousands of dollars. Some cars, though, are exceptional enough to avoid this curse. Due to one mix of limited production, desirable characteristics and slavish fan base or another, demand exceeds supply enough to force values up even in spite of any added miles on the odometer.I bring this up because I have a feeling the 2027 BMW M3 CS Handschalter is going to be one of those cars.BMW (BMW)As regular readers who recall our 2025 PCOTY test or are well-versed in the BMW lineup (or simply speak conversational German and have a knack for context clues), the "Handschalter" name was first used for a version of the now-defunct Z4 with a manual transmission. The M3 CS Handschalter likewise comes with a stick, a six-speed shifter much like that found in entry-level versions of the M3; likewise, the steering and electronic nannies have all be tuned specifically for the hand-shifter model.AdvertisementAdvertisementDue, presumably, to the limits of the gearbox, the M3 CS H'er only makes 473 hp and 406 lb-ft, leaving it 50 ponies and 73 twists behind the original M3 CS; the new car is also solely rear-wheel drive, versus the earlier CS's all-wheel grip. Unsurprisingly as a result, it's a bit slower off the line, with the 0-60-mph dash taking 3.8 seconds versus 3.2 for the more potent AWD version. Top gear will take the Handschalter all the way to 180 miles an hour, eight mph behind the automatic gearbox car but still fast enough that you'll be too busy clenching the wheel and your teeth to be bothered by the discrepancy.But dwelling on speed specs is to miss the point. The M3 CS Handschalter is about engagement and enjoyment both on the road and on a track. The suspension has been revised, with shocks from the M4 CS and new springs joining a new rear axle link and unique camber and axle kinematic tuning.The M3 stick-shift supreme also benefits from extended use of carbon fiber, with the hard stuff standing in for other materials in the hood, the roof, and both front and rear fasciae, as well as appearing inside in the frames of the nutcracker seats and in the cabin trim. There's also a new titanium muffler for the exhaust; all told, the changes make the car 42 pounds lighter than the normal M3 stick, but you can shave off almost 32 more by picking the optional carbon-ceramic brakes.BMW (BMW)On the appearance front, the Handschalter looks much like the automatic M3 CS, complete with the same array of aerodynamic additions and the yellow-tinted DRLs that might briefly fool other drivers into thinking they accidentally veered onto the track at Daytona. Isle of Man Green and Black Sapphire metallic paints come standard, while the Imola Red seen here costs an extra $4500, as does Techno Violet. The forged alloy wheels, meanwhile—275/35/19 up front, 285/30/20 in back, and clad in either high-performance or track-ready rubber—come in your choice of black or Gold Bronze.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe M3 CS Handschalter will start at $108,450, which is actually $11,245 less than the regular M3 CS started at when it went on sale in the spring of 2023, but roughly $28,000 more than a base M3 with the manual. Hardly chump change, but as I said, odds are good that price is only going up once they're all sold.You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State
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