BMW has clearly decided that if the current M3 is heading for retirement, it might as well leave the stage sideways.

Enter the new BMW M3 CS Handschalter — a limited-run, manual-only, rear-wheel-drive special aimed squarely at the sort of enthusiast who still believes proper driving involves three pedals and a mild sense of danger.

At a glance, it looks like any other M3 CS, which means aggressive bodywork, enormous intakes and enough carbon fibre to make a Formula 1 engineer blush. The lightweight bits are all here: carbon roof, bonnet, splitter, diffuser and spoiler, while inside you get M Carbon bucket seats designed to hold you firmly in place while questioning your spinal health.

But the important thing is sitting in the middle of the cabin: a six-speed manual gearbox. Not paddles. Not a little electronic switch pretending to be exciting. An actual gear lever connected to the rear wheels. In 2026, that alone feels rebellious.

Interestingly, BMW has reduced the power compared with the all-wheel-drive M3 CS. So instead of 543 horsepower, the Handschalter gets 473 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque — identical to the standard rear-drive M3. Which still sounds more than enough to accidentally destroy a set of rear tyres before lunchtime.

And that’s the point. This isn’t about chasing Nürburgring lap records or drag-strip bragging rights. It’s about involvement. About making the driver work for the speed rather than letting software handle everything in the background.

Naturally, BMW says production will be “very limited,” which is corporate language for “future auction houses are already interested.”

Of course, BMW being BMW, it also knows exactly how to monetise nostalgia. The Handschalter will only be sold in America and Canada, production numbers will be tiny, and the price starts at over $107,000 before you’ve even selected one of the expensive paint colours. Techno Violet? That’ll be another $4,500, thanks.

Cars like this are becoming endangered species. And if this really is the last analogue M3, BMW has chosen a wonderfully irresponsible way to say goodbye.