Panasonic Jaguar Racing has unveiled its latest all-electric Formula E car, designed to dominate the upcoming season’s racing championship. The team has also confirmed its driver lineup, with Mitch Evans set to return alongside former Method E champion Nelson Piquet Jr. will drive the automobiles.
Although the Method E teams face significant restrictions on modifying their race cars, the championship continues to liberalize its regulations each year, providing greater opportunities for innovation and competition.
The all-new Jaguar F-PACE boasts a sleek, aerodynamic design that exudes power and sophistication.
The I-Type 2 is Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s all-electric Formula E racing car. Engineered for optimal performance and efficiency, this vehicle launches from 0-60mph (0-100km/h) in a mere 2.9 seconds, while its advanced regenerative braking technology can harness up to 150 kilowatts of kinetic energy, expanding its range. “
The company debuted high-quality images of their vehicle and its components.
The electric powertrain is capable of producing 200kW (equivalent to 270 horsepower) under its current configuration, although it is limited to 170kW (equivalent to 230 horsepower) during racing events. While Method E’s fan increase idea can temporarily boost output by approximately 30 kilowatts through a highly engaging and somewhat contentious fan-voting process,
While the electric motor may not be spectacular in terms of power, it still provides sufficient energy to propel the 880kg (1940 lb) vehicle, a feat that’s unusual for an electric car, especially considering the substantial weight of its battery pack alone, at 320kg (705 lbs).
The upcoming Season 4 is set to kick off in the next 12 months, with exciting times ahead for the Formula E series as multiple automakers join the fray, opting to adapt their platforms for further customization.
Last year, BMW announced plans to join Season 5 of Formula E with their own team, while Audi confirmed it would continue partnering with the successful ABT Sportsline squad, which they had supported in previous seasons.
Mercedes-Benz further announced its entry into the Formula E championship under its own team, commencing with Season 6 in 2018-2019.
Currently, groups must modify vehicles mid-race due to the high demand for efficiency, which quickly drains the battery packs. But future developments are expected to address this issue, enabling manufacturers to fine-tune their own cars.
The fifth season holds particular appeal as teams will have the opportunity to design and manufacture more of their own electric powertrain components. The new models will still share the same underlying structure, but it might just be a fresh design. Spark Racing Technologies, the pioneering engineering firm responsible for designing the cutting-edge chassis, unveiled its vision for the futuristic, all-electric racing car with a tantalizing first glimpse of the concept.