2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe DTM race car at Frankfurt Motor Show

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By Brett Davis | September 14th, 2011

Mercedes-Benz, with the help of Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg, has unveiled the new 2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe DTM racing car at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, currently in progress.

The new touring car will compete next year in the German Touring Car Masters (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters) up against its main rivals; the BMW M3 DTM and the Audi A5 DTM cars. It will be powered by a race-certified 4.0-litre V8 engine producing around 373kW (500hp).

The 2012 Mercedes-Benz DTM car features a full carbon fibre monocoque chassis incorporated in with a race-spec sophisticated steel roll cage cabin structure. The structure also includes six specific crumple zones which absorb impacts in key areas.

As far the the body goes, it takes the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe design and extends upon that drastically. There’s wings, foils and vents on every panel, all contributing to enhance aerodynamic downforce and to improve air flow through and around the car – take a look at the size of that rear wing.

Michael Schumacher spoke about the new C-Class Coupe DTM car and its new level of safety upon the unveiling. He said,

“The new 2012 Mercedes-Benz DTM car looks fantastic, but what I find even more impressive than the car’s visual appearance is the new safety concept with its innovative safety cell and more advanced carbon-fiber crash structures. This safety standard is exemplary and constitutes, in my opinion, the benchmark for touring car racing.”

Mercedes-Benz will be looking to take on the other German giants during next year’s DTM championship. What do you think of it? Dramatic enough for you?

MattP

I’d love to see how this would perform against our local V8 Supercars.

Rob B

I bet the DTM car would be quicker over a lap – they are lighter, have more appropriate tyres for the power and the extra downforce would give higher corner speeds

Harry

some numbers I found (may be slightly off sho knows);

V8 supercars – 1355kg and 485kW, = 357kW/tonne
DTM cars – 1050kg and 373kW, = 355kW/tonne
Nascar – 1451kg and 645kW, = 444kW/tonne

so, the DTM and the V8 supercar should be roughly comparable, but you are right it isn’t just power weight ratios that matter, I bet a V8 Supercar would beat a Nascar around Bathurst.

F1MotoGP

I saw some DTM races. Pit stops are very quick. 2010 in Eurospeedway Di Resta with Mercedes 4 tyres and fuel in 2.7 sec

Source: Search Google for: 2.7s pit stop DTM 2010 Rd03 Eurospeedway

MattP

Agreed which is why it would be interesting to see this compete against the local V8′s so we could get them in context. Would be awesome racing on local circuits.

Far Canal Racing

Our V8′s might be competitive if you shut off half of the cylinders in this car and run it on 91 E20.

http://Porsche MB

The DTM cars would wipe the V8SC off the track….especially on tracks like Phillip Island & Bathurst….much greater downforce.

These DTM cars are like F1 cars with a shell on top

Harry

maybe, but I’d like to see it. All the more reason to make V8 supercars faster. Bathurst has straights too.

Just looked up some lap times and apparently the MotoGP lap record at Phillip Island is only 3 seconds faster than the V8 Supercar record. So I think wipe them off the track is a bit strong.

F1MotoGP

BMW says that the 2012 DTM M3 is able to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in around 3 seconds and that it has a top speed of 300 km/h.
The 2012 M3 DTM racer measures 4,775mm in length without its rear wing, 1,950mm in width and around 1,200mm in height, depending on its suspension setup.
Engine
Configuration V8
Location Front, longitudinally mounted
Displacement 3.998 liter
Bore / Stroke 93.0 mm / 73.6 mm
Valvetrain 4 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed Bosch Fuel Injection
Aspiration Naturally Aspirated
Power 460 bhp / 343 KW
Torque 500 Nm

Hugh Jorgan

I think DTM have got it right. V8 SC COTF and Nascar not so much.

Motorracing Fiened

V8SC probably require a higher level of driver involvment then a DTM car,heavier,less rubber,less downforce and more power.

To put it another way,i bet a V8SC driver would adapt quicker to a DTM car,than a DTM driver would to a V8SC.