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.

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

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