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The 2027 BMW M3 enters its final model year before the all-new Neue Klasse generation takes over, and this high-performance compact luxury saloon is going out with a proper send-off. Headlining the farewell is the limited-run M3 CS Handschalter, a special edition destined for future classic status. Every M3 retains the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine in three states of tune, producing 473hp in the rear-driven models, 503hp in the M3 Competition, and 523hp in the all-wheel-drive Competition xDrive. It remains the definitive choice for the uncompromising enthusiast who wants one car for back-road blasts and the daily commute alike.
The big news is that CS Handschalter, which translates from German as hand shifter. As the name suggests, it pairs the CS formula with a six-speed manual gearbox, marking the first stick-shift M3 CS ever built. It also sheds 75 pounds compared with the regular M3, and production will be strictly limited. The rest of the range carries over unchanged, which is no bad thing given the depth of talent on offer. The CS prioritises purity and driver connection over outright numbers, a refreshing stance in an era of relentless acceleration figures.
Despite its age, the M3 still wears its motorsport intent with conviction. Flared wheel arches, a planted stance, Extended Shadowline trim and black M side gills frame that famously tall grille, with adaptive LED headlights on either side. Carbon-ceramic brakes and M Carbon exterior parts feature on the options list, while wheels measure 18 inches up front and 19 at the rear, growing to 19 and 20 inches on the Competition. Inside, extended Merino leather, a heated M steering wheel with tri-colour stitching, stainless-steel pedals and the red M1 and M2 preset buttons set the tone, with carbon bucket seats and Alcantara trim available for those chasing a racier feel.
Performance remains ferocious across the board. The rear-driven M3 and CS reach 60mph in 4.1 seconds, the Competition trims that to 3.8, and the Competition xDrive storms there in just 3.4 seconds. Yet the M3 doubles as a genuinely usable saloon, offering a roomy back seat and a class-leading 16.9 cubic feet of boot space. Ground clearance of under five inches demands care over speed bumps and steep driveways, and fuel consumption is predictably thirsty, but three years of complimentary maintenance sweetens ownership.
The M3’s refusal to pick a single identity is precisely its strength. It delivers supercar-baiting pace and razor-sharp handling while shrugging off shopping runs and school duties without complaint. The rare manual option on the base car and CS adds further appeal, though rivals are circling, with the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing offering 472hp, a stick shift and a brilliant ride and handling balance of its own. As the curtain falls on this generation, the 2027 M3 stands as a fitting farewell to a modern legend.
