BMW M3 DTM revealed

BMW M3 DTM - revealed in Munich

Most people would consider the regular BMW M3 a quick car. And it is. But it doesn’t come close to the latest M3 to be revealed – the BMW M3 DTM.

Last night BMW had a bit of an event at the Double Cone building at Munich’s BMW Welt to take the wraps of BMW’s M3 DTM Concept – a clear indication of what BMW’s DTM car for 2012 will be – and to introduce the two drivers for 2012, Brazilian Augusto Farfus and Brit Andy Priaulx.

Andy Priaulx – who hails from Guernsey, hence the Franglais name – has driven for BMW for nine years and Augusto Farfus has been a  team mate of Andy’s at Schnitzer BMW for the last two years.

But it was the car that was the star of the event, heralding BMW’s return to DTM for the first time in almost twenty years.

DTM regulations for 2012 dictate that cars must be based on a production car and carry a significant number of standard components. The logic is that it will keep costs in check and make DTM a more accessible motorsport than most.

But despite the regulations BMW has managed to produce a car that produces 480bhp – even with the air restrictor that’s part of the regulations – can get to 60mph in around 3 seconds and manage almost 200mph.

Although this M3 DTM isn’t the final car that will compete next year, it’s well on the way. But it was important for BMW to get the wraps off and show it’s keeping up with Audi and Mercedes, both of whom will be in DTM in 2012, Audi with their new A5 DTM and Mercedes with the expected C-Class Coupe DTM.

Should make for an interesting season.

(15 photos – click any thumbnail for full gallery)

By Cars UK