Mercedes GP Formula One drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg on Tuesday revealed the 2012 DTM AMG Mercedes C-Coupe at the Frankfurt motor show.

Like other 2012 German touring cars, the DTM AMG C-Coupe meets new DTM safety regulations by combining a carbon-fiber monocoque with a steel roll cage. Each car, built by either Audi, BMW or Mercedes, also has six carbon-fiber crash structures to absorb energy and better protect drivers, according to Mercedes.

"The new 2012 Mercedes-Benz DTM car looks fantastic," Schumacher said. "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 structures. This safety standard is exemplary and constitutes, in my opinion, the benchmark for touring-car racing."

Mercedes' new DTM racer is powered by a 4.0-liter V8 making about 500 hp and 367 lb-ft of torque and uses a six-speed gearbox with steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles.

"The first test of a new car is always an excitement," Mercedes DTM driver Gary Paffett said. "After getting a feel for the handling and performance of the DTM AMG Mercedes C-Coupe around the Lausitzring, I can say I'm very pleased with it. Of course, we still have a lot of development work ahead of us before the 2012 season opener in Hockenheim. The driving experience is quite different to that of previous DTM cars. The new Hankook tires for 2012 are wider and have taller sidewalls, providing more mechanical grip."

Vice president of Mercedes-Benz Motorsports Norbert Haug added, "The new-generation vehicle, based on our Mercedes-Benz C-Coupe, signals the introduction of an even more spectacular racing car from the start of 2012. I am certain that the spectators will get their money's worth from the three-way fight between Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the DTM next year."