BMW debuts two concept cars and stages 40-year M3 tribute at Monterey Car Week

BMW is using Monterey Car Week 2026 to show two future-facing concept cars while centering much of its on-site programming on the BMW M3’s 40th anniversary. The company said on August 4 that the week will include the North American debuts of the BMW M Concept Neue Klasse and the Vision BMW ALPINA, plus heritage displays and a Kith collaboration event. BMW said the M3 anniversary programming will run through Legends of the Autobahn and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Yahoo Autos reported that the car likely to draw the closest attention from collectors is not one of the concepts, but the 2027 BMW M3 CS Handschalter, a manual-transmission special edition described as the car with “three pedals.” (press.bmwgroup.com) ### Which two concept cars is BMW bringing to Monterey? BMW said the two concept debuts are the BMW M Concept Neue Klasse and the Vision BMW ALPINA, both appearing in North America for the first time at Monterey Car Week. The company said the M concept previews the next era of BMW M with M-specific Neue Klasse technology and a quad-motor performance concept, while the Vision BMW ALPINA is a one-of-one design study tied to ALPINA’s heritage of speed, comfort and luxury. (press.bmwgroup.com) The BMW M Concept Neue Klasse had its world premiere at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Vision BMW ALPINA was first shown at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, BMW said. That makes Monterey a U.S.-market introduction rather than a global reveal for both vehicles. ### Why is the M3 anniversary such a big part of the week? BMW said Monterey will also serve as a 40-year tribute to the BMW M3, with landmark road cars and race cars appearing at Legends of the Autobahn and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. (press.bmwgroup.com) The company framed that programming as a central part of its Car Week presence alongside the concept debuts. Yahoo Autos reported that BMW plans to gather six generations of M3 under the anniversary banner. (press.bmwgroup.com) The outlet said the display is set to include the original 1986 E30, an E36 M3 Lightweight, an E46, an E9x-generation Lime Rock Park Edition proof-of-concept, an F82 M4 GTS and the current G80-generation M3 CS Handschalter. ### Why are collectors focused on the car with “three pedals”? Yahoo Autos said the 2027 BMW M3 CS Handschalter is the BMW model collectors should watch most closely during the week. The outlet described it as a manual-only, rear-drive-only special edition that entered production in July and is due to reach customers this fall. (press.bmwgroup.com) A separate Yahoo Autos report published in May said the M3 CS Handschalter is being offered only in the United States and Canada. That report cited BMW product and technology spokesperson Jay Hanson as saying, “The U.S. is the largest market for BMW M,” and that buyers there had made clear they still wanted high-performance cars with manual transmissions. (autos.yahoo.com) ### Where do Kith and Ronnie Fieg fit into BMW’s plans? BMW said Monterey will also include an invitation-only panel with Kith founder and chief executive Ronnie Fieg. The company said the event will unveil the fourth chapter of the BMW-Kith collaboration, including a new collection and bespoke automobiles celebrating BMW’s past and present. (autos.yahoo.com) Yahoo Autos said that collaboration is part of a broader Pebble Beach week program that mixes concept-car appearances, heritage displays and lifestyle branding. (autos.yahoo.com) The outlet listed the Pebble Beach Concept Lawn among BMW’s stops during the week. ### When can people see BMW’s Monterey program? Yahoo Autos said BMW’s Monterey schedule opens on Thursday, August 13, at Legends of the Autobahn in Pacific Grove, then continues through Laguna Seca’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, The Quail and the Concept Lawn at the 75th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Sunday, August 16. (press.bmwgroup.com) BMW said the week’s core elements are the two North American concept debuts, the M3 anniversary tribute and the Kith collaboration reveal. August 16 is the last day named in Yahoo Autos’ event rundown, with Pebble Beach hosting the final public appearance in BMW’s Monterey sequence. (autos.yahoo.com) Ronnie Fieg’s panel, the M3 heritage displays and the two concept cars are all part of that August 13-16 program on the Monterey Peninsula, according to BMW and Yahoo Autos. (press.bmwgroup.com)