BMW sends off the 6th-gen M3 CS with a manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive

May 19, 2026

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BMW sends off the 6th-gen M3 CS with a manual gearbox, rear-wheel drive

Imagine standing at a crossroads — BMW is saying goodbye to its sixth-generation M3 CS with a true manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, something rare these days. Jonathan M. Gitlin reports that, while most high-performance cars have shifted to dual-clutch automatics, BMW is offering a last hurrah for enthusiasts who love to row their own gears. The 2027 M3 CS is designed for maximum driver engagement, exclusive to North America, and keeps the old-school manual alive with a six-speed stick — something that’s almost extinct in the world of turbocharged, electronically everything. As Gitlin notes, BMW’s move isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s a statement that real driver involvement still matters. What’s fascinating here is BMW’s recognition that, for true enthusiasts, paddle shifters can’t replace the tactile feel of a clutch and shifter, especially on a car this focused. So what does this mean? It’s a rare, bold gesture in an industry rushing to electric, proving that sometimes, the pure joy of driving still has a place — and BMW is betting on that.

The march of time, and what counts for progress in the automotive industry, has not been particularly kind to the driving enthusiast. Our vehicles have gotten bigger and heavier. Touch-sensitive panels and screens replaced buttons. Steering feel evaporated about a decade ago. And if you're a fan of changing your own gears with a stick shift and three pedals, things have been looking bleak for a while now. Which makes BMW's send-off for its current sixth-generation M3 so notable.

BMW's M division kept the six-speed manual alive for the G80 M3, but only the normal version. If you wanted the more powerful, much torquier M3 Competition or the track-focused M3 CS (Competition Sport), the only transmission choice was an eight-speed automatic. That automatic happens to be the excellent ZF 8HP gearbox, and for being fast on track, I'd still choose it, because that makes left-foot braking easier.

Using paddle shifts might be faster, but I won't pretend it's more engaging than coordinating the movement of a gearstick through its gate, timed properly to the action of the clutch—especially if you're heel-and-toeing, but even if you use the auto-blip feature that revs the engines for you on downshifts now. BMW appears to recognize that too, because it says the 2027 M3 CS Handschalter is designed for maximum driver engagement, and just for North America.

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