  The cross section of the process $e^+e^- \to 3(\pi^+\pi^-)$ has been measured
using 22 pb$^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity collected with the CMD-3 detector
at the VEPP-2000 $e^+e^-$ collider in the c.m. energy range 1.5 -- 2.0 GeV. The
measured cross section exhibits a sharp drop near the $p\bar p$ threshold. A
first study of dynamics of six-pion production has been performed.
