Listen Carefully: This Next-Gen BMW M3 Prototype Has A Manual Gearbox

A test mule for the 2021 M3 has been spotted at the Nurburgring, eliciting a telltale pause between shifts
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You really don’t need to worry about the next BMW M3 not coming with a manual. BMW officials have gone on record more than once about the G30 3-series-based super-saloon coming with an optional stick shift, most recently with M Division chief Markus Flasch pledging to Top Gear that the car won’t be auto only.

We wouldn’t blame you for worrying still, though. High-power manuals are in perilously short supply these days, with only a few heroes like the Aston Martin Vantage AMR keeping the flame. But just to put your fears at rest, have a careful listen to the gearchanges of this 2021 BMW M3 prototype.

Yep, that’s the telltale pause of a cog being engaged the old-fashioned way. Praise be.

Listen Carefully: This Next-Gen BMW M3 Prototype Has A Manual Gearbox

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a manual M3 at the Nurburgring, but hey - we’ll just take this as extra confirmation that the most driver-focused version of the car is definitely happening.

Beyond that, we know that the S58 engine - first used in the X3 M and X4 M - will be used for propulsion. The new turbocharged straight-six is good for 503bhp in the ‘Competition’ variants of the super SUVs, giving us a clue about the kind of firepower the next M3 and M4 will have at their disposal.

We can expect the new M3 to be launched at some point in 2020.

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Comments

Twopoint0

Moans

11/04/2019 - 12:10 |
1 | 0
Robert Gracie

The Sound of that Manual M3 shifting is eargasmic

11/04/2019 - 12:42 |
0 | 2
Anonymous

Найс

11/04/2019 - 13:01 |
2 | 0
Nishant Dash

You know it’s a manual when there are no DCT farts haha

11/04/2019 - 13:15 |
32 | 0
Niko Ala-Rämi 🇫🇮

In reply to by Nishant Dash

Those farts rip my ears off, they are so annoying

11/04/2019 - 13:47 |
16 | 0
Anonymous

i couldnt hear any gear changes

11/04/2019 - 14:37 |
4 | 1
ejohns67

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

It didn’t sound like they shifted at all throughout the entire video.

11/04/2019 - 22:18 |
0 | 0
Elliot.J99

Shame it has lungs instead of kidneys for grilles

11/04/2019 - 14:43 |
14 | 0

So Extended lungs is a thing….

11/04/2019 - 15:37 |
0 | 0

I don’t think so. If you look at this prototype, it still has small grilles. The huge ones are probably exclusive for the M4

11/04/2019 - 20:21 |
3 | 0

Only the Coupe M4 will have the horrid grills.
You can see this has the normal size ones.

11/04/2019 - 20:49 |
0 | 0
miketank1

Manual sports car? Enthusiast dream car

11/04/2019 - 21:36 |
0 | 0
Ross Dillon

still a great sounding BMW straight 6, lovely.

11/05/2019 - 17:53 |
0 | 0