Americans Give A Shift: Half Of BMW M2s Are Manuals

In the U.S., manual transmissions are proving stubbornly alive in BMW M’s most accessible performance lineup. BMW M CEO Frank van Meel told Motor1 that one in two BMW M2s sold in the United States is equipped with a six-speed stick shift. He linked that demand to BMW’s decision to bring back a manual for a special edition, the M3 CS Handschalter, built as a limited North American run and sold out almost instantly. Van Meel described the appeal as strong among purists who want rear-wheel drive plus three pedals. The M2, M3 and M4 are also the last M models that offer a clutch pedal on lower-tier versions.