Filed under: Motorsports, Sedans/Saloons, Geneva Motor Show, Euro, Mercedes-Benz
Making NASCAR look lame: Mercedes AMG C-Class DTM
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Here's my issue with NASCAR (and I know I'm in the minority here, based on the sport's immense popularity): I can barely tell one car from another, and as a result, I get bored. Sure, I know who the big guys are and what cars they're supposedly driving, but the fact of the matter is this: the bodies are, to the naked eye, identical-looking. If the cars didn't have stickers to simulate the front fascia of an actual production car, I'd be lost. Monte Carlo SS? Charger? Fusion? Camry? Sure, if you (and the decals) say so. Thank goodness for the production-based classes in ALMS, SPEED World Challenge, Grand-Am and the like, where Vettes, Astons, Mustangs, etc. are completely identifiable.
The Germany-based DTM series also gets it right. Granted, only two marques participate -- Mercedes-Benz and Audi -- but the cars look like the ones they're supposed to be based on, well..because they are. This week in Geneva, Mercedes unveiled its extra-mean-looking new DTM car. In conjunction with the debut of the redone C-Class sedan, the new AMG-prepped DTM car has been similarly brought up-to-date. The C-Class' new beak looks right at home on the wide-bodied A4-hunter, and despite the massive fender flares, aggressive ground effects, and serious rear wing, there's no mistaking it for anything other than a C-Class.
The Germans, it seems, enjoy knowing what the hell it is they're looking at when the cars streak by the stands.
[Source: Mercedes-Benz]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Charles 10:36AM (3/09/2007)
NASCAR is lame. Did you not watch Top Gear!
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zach 10:47AM (3/09/2007)
I'll skip the NASCAR bashing, but I do agree that these cars are amazing. Too bad we don't get to watch the series since Fox and Nascar essentially keep Speed stuck on 24/7 Nascar coverage.
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Brandon 10:49AM (3/09/2007)
I thought NASCAR already made NASCAR look lame? No?
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Tagg 10:59AM (3/09/2007)
You don't have to like NASCAR but what they do works and ALL other series could learn something from how the market their sport. Lets be honest, F1 broadcasts are nearly unwatchable with the constant slo-mo replays of a car bouncing over a curb or the retarded shot of a section of the wing. F1 tries to be "artsy" in it's broadcasts and it drives me crazy!!
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Mike 10:59AM (3/09/2007)
I miss the NATCC from the 1996 and 1997. THAT was a great series, and a shame it went under.
"The idea is simple: take the best four-door import and domestic sedans sold in the country, limit the engine displacement to two liters, allow a few select modifications -- such as 19-inch wheels and slick tires, sequential-shift racing transmissions and selected tweaks to the essentially stock blocks -- and send them around the country with Indy Car and SCCA championships."
Dodge Stratus, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, BMW 3 series, Mercedes C class, and was the Contour in there as well?
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CEMan 11:00AM (3/09/2007)
So True!! And the COT is only going to make it worse.
At least this still has doors!!
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chuck goolsbee 11:00AM (3/09/2007)
ObOldFart Quote:
"I remember when they called "Stock Car Racing" and by gawd they were STOCK. You could walk into a dealer and buy the same car Richard Petty drove at Daytona."
I have to concur with the demise of Speed into all-nascar, all-the-time. Ugh. I miss my WRC, F1, Le Mans typs racing dearly... not to mention gems like "Victory By Design"
Thank goodness for YouTube. The TV is Dead, LONG LIVE THE INTERNET!
--chuck
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oren 11:01AM (3/09/2007)
DTM is pretty boring too, I'd rather watch F1 or WRC.
http://www.montrealvip.com/montrealgrandprix.html
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Shawn 11:02AM (3/09/2007)
I hate NASCAR...Can't stand it, can't stand the culture of it. However, it originated from bootlegging and bragging rights about who is the best driver. That is why the cars are virtually the same.
For example, some people might want to watch a soccer game to see which company makes the best ball. While others might enjoy watching athletes perform.
I personally find soccer boring, but I dont' fault one side or the other.
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Tagg 11:03AM (3/09/2007)
Sorry, but Top Gear is lame too.
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Alberto 11:03AM (3/09/2007)
Nascar is indeed lame. Days of Thunder showed it to us. Talladega Nights reminded us and the Mercedes AMG C-Class DTM confirms it.
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Mike 11:07AM (3/09/2007)
I just wish there was an actual real stock car league again. This car is cool and all, but there isn't a chance I could afford a MB, nor would I want one, but thats not the point anyway. I just want an established league with your average mid sized car, Monte Carlo, Taurus, Charger etc, but with out all the modifications that leaves me wondering why they even keep the stock part of the name in NASCAR, their isn't anything stock about those cars.
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Quattrofan 11:09AM (3/09/2007)
Hands down one of my favorite T-shirts.
http://www.bustedtees.com/shirt/boringnascar/
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eDamo 11:12AM (3/09/2007)
I don't like NASCAR either. I like to see REAL production cars race.
Down under we have 'V8 Supercars' - Falcons and Commodores racing. Imo, it craps all over NASCAR.
Check it out - http://www.v8supercar.com.au/
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oneighturbo 11:14AM (3/09/2007)
DTM is boring??? WTF!
anyways, the DTM series is shown on Speed after their season ends around the time our overall "racing" season ends.. so we have something to watch!!!
All DTM races are aired! Set the Tivo.
http://www.speedtv.com/programs/183/
BTCC as well
http://www.speedtv.com/programs/134/
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Mike 11:21AM (3/09/2007)
The other good thing about NATCC, I can walk into my local Dodge dealer, and order from MOPAR all suspension bits and engine parts from the factory competition stratus to bolt up to a 1st gen cloud car. All mounting points were the same, and all racing parts are offered in the mopar catalogue.
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Eric Liberatore 11:23AM (3/09/2007)
The closest thing I've found to stock car racing here in the U.S. is Rally America.
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mj 11:45AM (3/09/2007)
Nascar used to be production based, and at the time it was about as popular as DTM... Sorry, but the public would rather see competitive racing than a manufacturers' pissing contest.
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MCS05 11:48AM (3/09/2007)
Everybody already knows that ratings drive what is shown on Speed. I personally can't stand stock car or truck racing. Why can't Speed spin off a new channel with lower ratings expectations and show the WRC, DTM BTCC and other "fringe" series to guys like who want to see it? MTV has MTV2 and other channels.
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Lee Gibson 11:52AM (3/09/2007)
I liked Speed a lot better before it got all NASCARed.
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