BMW Planning Its Comeback to DTM in 2012

After dropping out of the Formula One late last year, BMW announced its intent to return to the Deutch Tourenwagen Masters (the German Touring Car Championship) beginning 2012. BMW told the public that it will be focusing its energies on the motorsports production-based line. However, certain conditions need to be met. BMW didn’t clarify what these conditions are, but they are probably talking about rule alterations.

BMW hasn’t participated in the Deutch Tourenwagen Masters since the middle of the 1990s. Audi and Mercedes are currently dominating the DTM field. However, BMW did compete in other touring car classes including the World Touring Car Championship.

According to recent reports, some technical developments have already been made with the DTM car. Apparently, the model will be based on the M3. With the DTM launch pegged in 2012, reviewers suspect that the next line of M3 vehicles will debut about a year earlier, in 2011. The current M3 model is already competing in GT2 races in Europe and North America. BMW also just recently launched a Z4 racer for the GT3 class.

Today’s M3 coupe is based on the E90 with a brand new 4.0 L V8 which can generate 414 horsepower and a torque of 295 pound-feet. The original M3 was first manufactured in 1986 sporting a boxy body and a high output 16V four-cylinder engine. The current M3 coupe was launched by the company in 2008.

This year, BMW also enjoys the “most valuable car brand” niche based on the Top 100 Brandz. The production of these high performance cars and several anticipated motorsport wins should keep the car manufacturer in that post.