Valterra T1005-1 Slip Socket T1005-1 on 2040-parts.com

BMW M3 set to compete in DTM from 2012

It might have pulled out of F1, but the upshot is that BMW has announced plans to enter the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) in 2012 with the M3, plus it’s developing a new racer and 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, and will continue its other production car-based racing activities. ‘Following the withdrawal from Formula One, the realignment of our motorsport programme is raising our presence in production car racing to a whole new level,’ said BMW board member Dr. Klaus Draeger.

News watch Jan 2012: today's auto industry news

Welcome to CAR Magazine's news aggregator as we round up the daily stories in the auto industry. Top tip: news summaries are added from the top hour-by-hour Tuesday 31 January 2012• Two Japanese car parts suppliers have been fined a staggering $548m for price fixing offences following an FBI investigation. Yazaki Corp.

Mercedes CLA employs a cat in new advert to demonstrate its aerodynamic shape (video)

It’s the Mercedes CLA sliding cat advert We’re not entirely sure that Mercedes has chosen to focus attention on a cat in a new advert for the CLA to dig at Jaguar’s mickey-take of its chicken advert for Magic Body Control, but it’s definitely the cat that’s front and centre, regardless of the motivation. With the new Mercedes CLA boasting exceptional aerodynamic credentials, Mercedes has employed a stunt cat to slide up and over the CLA to demonstrate just how slippery their new compact saloon is. Already shown on TV in the UK at the weekend (during the new series of Britain’s Got Talent), the moggie in question – William, apparently – glides effortlessly over the CLA’s slippery shape to a soundtrack playing Rossini’s Duetto buffo di due gatti (which you may not think you know, but you do).