BMW bringing two concepts, M3 tribute

BMW is using Monterey Car Week 2026 to stage two North American concept debuts while tying the week to a 40-year celebration of the M3. BMW said in a U.S. press release dated August 4 that it will show the BMW M Concept Neue Klasse and the Vision BMW ALPINA during the event. (press.bmwgroup.com) Yahoo Autos reported on August 5 that the car collectors are most likely to focus on is not one of those concepts, but the 2027 BMW M3 CS Handschalter. (autos.yahoo.com) That model is a manual-only, rear-wheel-drive special edition that BMW confirmed earlier this year for North America. The result is a Monterey program split between future-facing show cars and a heritage-heavy M3 display. BMW said the week will also include M3 road and race cars, a Pebble Beach Concept Lawn appearance and a Kith collaboration event with founder and chief executive Ronnie Fieg. (press.bmwgroup.com) ### Which two BMW concepts are actually coming? BMW named the two concept vehicles in its August 4 release as the BMW M Concept Neue Klasse and the Vision BMW ALPINA. The company said both will make their North American debuts at Monterey Car Week. (autos.yahoo.com) The BMW M Concept Neue Klasse was previously shown at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, while the Vision BMW ALPINA was first revealed at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, BMW said. BMW described the M concept as a preview of the next era of BMW M, built around M-specific Neue Klasse technology and a quad-motor performance concept. (press.bmwgroup.com) ### Why is a production M3 getting more attention than the concepts? Yahoo Autos said the 2027 BMW M3 CS Handschalter is the car “collectors should watch” because it is the kind of limited-production, enthusiast-focused model that can matter more to buyers than a design study. The publication described it as a car that will barely appear on the official schedule even as BMW builds much of the week around it. (press.bmwgroup.com) BMW M said in a May 18 release that the M3 CS Handschalter is a limited-edition model that pairs a 6-speed manual transmission with rear-wheel drive and is built exclusively for North America. BMW listed a starting price of $107,100 plus $1,350 destination and handling, and said production would start in July with deliveries arriving this fall. (press.bmwgroup.com) ### What does the 40-year M3 tribute include? BMW said the Monterey program will mark 40 years of the BMW M3 with landmark road cars and race cars shown at Legends of the Autobahn and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Yahoo Autos reported that the road-car display spans six generations, from the original E30 to the current G80-generation M3 CS Handschalter. (autos.yahoo.com) Yahoo Autos said the lineup includes the 1986 E30, an E36 M3 Lightweight, an E46, an E9x-generation proof-of-concept tied to the Lime Rock Park Edition, an F82 M4 GTS and the current M3 CS Handschalter. BMW separately said four decades of M3 history will also be reflected in race-car appearances during the week. (press.bmwgroup.com) ### Where will BMW show the cars during Monterey week? BMW’s public program begins Thursday, August 13, at Legends of the Autobahn in Pacific Grove, according to Yahoo Autos. The schedule then runs through Laguna Seca’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, The Quail, and the Pebble Beach Concept Lawn on Sunday, August 16. (press.bmwgroup.com) BMW said the Kith portion of the week will include an invitation-only panel with Ronnie Fieg and the unveiling of the fourth chapter of the BMW-Kith collaboration, including a new collection and bespoke automobiles. That event sits alongside the concept debuts and M3 anniversary displays as part of the company’s Monterey program. (autos.yahoo.com) August 13 is the next key date for the public portion of BMW’s Monterey plan. BMW said the concepts and the 40-year M3 display will be part of its programming across the Monterey Peninsula through August 16. (press.bmwgroup.com) (autos.yahoo.com)