The C-Class is also causing a sensation in the sporting world. Shortly after the premiere of the successful Saloon version, the engineers and technical staff were already busy putting the finishing touches to the racing version for the coming German Touring Car Masters (DTM) season. The latest edition of the most successful race car in DTM history will celebrate its world premiere in Geneva. By the time of the first race at the Hockenheimring on April 22, the C-Class 2007 will be ready to write the latest chapter in Mercedes-Benz' impressive DTM history, piloted by defending champion Bernd Schneider, last season's runner-up Bruno Spengler, youngster Jamie Green and two-time Formula-1 world champion Mika Hakkinen.

Development, design and construction began in March 2006. And just ten months later, the new C-Class for the DTM made its debut on the track. Beneath the new body are a whole host of modified components, notably the engine and the wheel suspension. The V8 engine with a cylinder angle of 90 degrees, a displacement of four litres and four valves per cylinder has been optimised and now develops around 350 kW/470 hp at 7500 rpm with a peak torque of 500 Nm. The engineers were given the most technical freedom when it came to designing the wheel suspension which was fine-tuned in order to further improve handling and driving dynamics.