BMW, the maker of so many dream cars, has just announced our dream car - a simplified version of the current M3 saloon, with a manual six-speed gearbox and rear-wheel drive. The sad thing is that, just like most dreams, we can't have one in reality.
What? Say it ain't so…
I'm afraid it is. This is the BMW M3 CS Handschalter, and there will be no laughing at the name. The Handschalter bit means that it gets the same six-speed manual gearbox as found in the Z4 sports car with the same name, and it's basically a romantic send-off to the current version of the M3, the G80 code model, which will be replaced next year by a combination of an upgraded version of the existing car, with its 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine heavily modified to meet Euro7 emissions regulations, and of course the first all-electric M3, based on the new i3 saloon, and using four in-wheel electric motors with a likely power output of 1,000hp.
Why can't we have this manual model?
There has actually always been a manual model of the existing M3 and M4 coupes, but both have been left-hand drive only. A big part of it is that the combo of manual gearbox and clutch means that the straight-six engine has to be detuned from the 530hp you get with the auto and four-wheel drive, to 473hp in the Handschalter.
Mind you, binning off the extra driveshafts and the auto' box has also reduced the weight by as much as 34kg if you spec your manual M3 with the optional carbon-ceramic brake discs. And while 473hp might not sound like much, it's still enough to deliver a sub-4.5 second 0-100km/h time, and who really needs to go faster than that?
Any other changes for this manual M3?
Yes, actually. Because of the weight and balance changes that come with the switch to a manual and rear-wheel drive, the M3 Handschalter gets new suspension, with new tuning and a lower rear axle linkage that actually drops the ride height by 6mm compared to a standard 4WD M3. There are also higher-performance dampers donated by the hardcore M3 CSL.
The alloy wheels - available in Gold-Bronze or Black - are 19-inch rims at the front and 20-inch at the rear and come with track-biased tyres.
The bodywork gets carbon-fibre detailing, borrowed from the M3 CS, including exposed carbon for the roof panel, sections of the bonnet, the front splitter, front air intakes, M exterior mirror caps, rear spoiler, and lower rear bumper. The lights have a 24-hour racing-inspired yellow glow when in standby mode, too, also taken from the CS.
Those lucky US buyers can choose from four paint colours - Isle of Man Green metallic and Black Sapphire metallic are offered at no charge, or you can pay extra for Imola Red or Techno Violet.
What about the interior?
Inside, you'll find M Carbon bucket seats, which come with Anthracite Full Merino leather with CS-exclusive Mugello Red accents, but while there's a sense of stripped-out speedster about the M3 Handschalter, there's also plenty of luxury, including a Harmon/Kardon sound system.
There's also some trackday tech in the big digital screens, including M Drift Analyser and M Laptimer functions, while the M Traction Control system comes with ten levels of 'intervention sensitivity.'
How much is the MW M3 CS Handschalter?
Well, remember that you can't buy one here. In the US, the price tag is $107,100, which converts to €92,171 (but which doesn't include VRT or VAT).