Monday 18th July 2011

BMW Unwraps 2012 DTM Challenger

Blue-and-white roundel is back in the tin-top top flight

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There has been much talk of late about BMW's imminent return to German touring cars; now Munich has finally unveiled the car on which its hopes of DTM glory rest.

Looking pretty darn mean in matt black paint covering carbon fibre bodywork, the M3 coupe is powered by a 480hp V8. It's still not the final form of the new racer, however; BMW's engineers will be working on aero, engine and chassis development for some months yet.

It's been a while since BMW has been in the DTM - it hasn't been present in the series for two decades - and the company's return coincides with all-new technical regulations aimed at keeping costs down.

Pedalling some of BMW's machines in 2012 will be experienced BMW touring car hands Brit Andy Priaulx and Augustus Farfus. That's a pretty strong start - Priaulx in particular has three World Touring Car titles and one European Touring Car crown under his belt.

BMW is the first manufacturer to take the wraps off its 2012 DTM challenger; Audi has announced that it will campaign an A5 coupe in the series, but has not yet revealed the car itself, while Mercedes hasn't even got that far yet - though you can reasonably expect it to use the C-class coupe as its basis.

[S18DMW]

Looks like DTM might get interesting next year....

[Matt80M]

Oh lordy. Scary looking thing.

[fingersprice]

Is Darth Vader going to be driving this car?

[Munich]

I wonder if Audi and MB will react to BMW using the coupé by fielding the A5 and C-Class coupé?

[ManOpener]

Munich said:

I wonder if Audi and MB will react to BMW using the coupé by fielding the A5 and C-Class coupé?

That was somewhat indicated in the original post...

[Munich]

OK .... Just read the article in full and see that my question is actually answered......

Must remember to the article in full first.

[V8 GRF]

What is the definition of 'keeping costs down'? That looks and sounds a mightly expensive beast to me.....

.. as said above though the two drivers have to be a Messers D. Vader and B. Atman. I think if I saw that behind me on a race track I'd just pull over and let it pass

[bluesandtwos]

I assume you mean Augusto Farfus...

[LukeBird]

Good to see some more competition in DTM.
I've always thoroughly enjoyed going to Brands to see it, can't wait to go back now!

[Frik]

Looks utterly ridiculous. I love it.

[alexpa]

Is Bruce Wayne the driver?

[designndrive62]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/93126

[Logie]

Looks great, tbh i love to drive something like that around the streets

[Slurms]

Holy crap!

Can BMW please please please make a roadcar that looks like this... Might be enough to scare the Audi drivers out of the BMW lane on the motorway!

[goron59]

I'm certainly not a BMW fanbois, but I do like the look of that!

[aizvara]

alexpa said:

Is Bruce Wayne the driver?

That's what I thought upon seeing it. BMW do like making Batmobiles.

[jellison]

NICE - Proper Touring car

[trickymex]

That car looks like it's got the raging piss-ache, love it

[trickymex]

That car looks like it's got the raging pi$$-ache, love it

[CoopR]

That front end is just awesome!