Progressing towards works entry for Season 5: Preparation of the new BMW iFE.18 for Formula E enters the next phase.

Munich. “BMW iFE.18 – TechLab for BMW iNEXT”: This tag-line
was prominently featured on the new BMW i Motorsport race car for
the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. This car completed its historic
first appearance on the BMW and MINI Driving Academy site in
Maisach, near Munich (GER). It was powered by the completely new BMW
drivetrain, which was created specifically for the special
challenges of motor racing. It was the result of close collaboration
between engineers from BMW i production development and from BMW
Motorsport. BMW works driver Tom Blomqvist (GBR) was behind the
wheel of the first fully-electric racing car in the history of the
BMW Group. 

 

“The BMW iFE.18 is a milestone for our company,” explains Marquardt.
“After months of excellent collaboration between the engineers from
production and racing development, we can all now see the result in
action. This Formula E project has seen the most remarkable technology
transfer between production and motorsport in the history of BMW.
Everyone involved has breathed life into the ‘TechLab for BMW i’ motto
from the word go. I can hardly wait to see the car racing for the
first time in the BMW i Motorsport colours when Season 5 gets going.”

 

The new BMW drivetrain is the heart of the BMW iFE.18. The future
common chassis for Formula E was first presented in early March at the
International Motor Show in Geneva (SUI). Some impressive comparison
figures provide the most compelling evidence of the performance
increases that the new system generates for Formula E, compared to the
production engine in the BMW i3. The race machine is 50 percent
lighter, 66 percent more compact and produces 100 percent more
performance. It even reaches revs 400 percent higher than its
production counterpart.

 

Alongside all the Formula E teams, the new BMW iFE.18 will take to
the track at the official Formula E test in Calafat (ESP) from
17th to 19th April 2018.