► New, Generation 3 car
► To debut in season 9
► More regen, more power, more speed
You’re looking at the next generation of Formula E car, teased yesterday at the all-electric series’ pre-season testing. Designed for Season 9 – the one after this one – the new car appears to go even more extreme on the visual stakes, and looks like Sauron’s Uber from these first pictures.
It’s hard to make out details, but it’s clear the Formula E’s third-generation car dispenses with a rear-wing entirely, instead preferring to generate what little downforce it makes from a large diffuser. Like the previous car it’ll also be a wedge shape (due to packaging its large battery) and now it looks a little like a Grumman F-14 Tomcat.
Inside, the Gen 3 will be full of further efficiency improvements: 40% of the energy used in race conditions will be reclaimed from braking, while a powertrain on each axle (250kW at the front just for regen and 350kW at the rear) will double the regen capability of the new cars. The enhanced energy-saving capability means the new cars won’t need traditional rear brakes at all.
As for power, expect 350kW in total (470bhp) and a top speed of 200mph, a decent increase on the 173mph of the current cars, and more than enough for the street tracks Formula E tends to race on.
‘In designing the Gen3 car, we set out to demonstrate that high performance, efficiency and sustainability can co-exist without compromise. Together with the FIA, we have built the world’s most efficient and sustainable high performance race car,’ said Jamie Reigle, Formula E CEO.
‘The Gen3 is our fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient racing car yet. It is a creature designed for its habitat: racing on city streets in wheel-to-wheel combat. We look forward to witnessing it inspire and excite the next generation of motorsport fans in cities around the world from Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.’
We’ll update this article when we know more.