BMW has completed the first round of testing on its season five Formula E car. Engineers from both the German manufacturer’s production and racing development teams have collaborated to create the brand’s first fully electric racing car, the iFE.18.
The vehicle is set to participate in this year’s Formula E championship, making use of a specifically tuned version of the drivetrain seen in the BMW i3. The iFE.18 sports a version of this powertrain that the manufacturer bills as 50% lighter and 66% more compact than its production counterpart.
“This Formula E project has seen the most remarkable technology transfer between production and motorsport in the history of BMW,” said BMW motorsport boss, Jens Marquardt. “I can hardly wait to see the car racing for the first time in the BMW i Motorsport colours when season five gets going.”
The BMW iFE.18 racer will be given its first public demonstration at next month’s race in Berlin by 2016 Formula 1 world champion, Nico Rosberg.