At Jaguar’s brand new design studio in Gaydon, UK, the Panasonic Jaguar Racing Formula E team took the wraps off its I-TYPE 4 car, which will compete in the upcoming sixth season of the all-electric race series.
With new rules and regulations, the team has been busy tweaking and tinkering with design and engineering of its new car since the season ended in July.
Ready to race the season opener in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia on November 22, the I-TYPE 4 features an all new motor, gearbox, inverter, rear suspension and dampers has seen its overall weight reduced offering improved handling and performance.
The new powertrain is the lightest and most efficient the PJR team has ever produced. It features a new vehicle control module – which increases the processing capacity and allows faster rate of software development, while it also is positioned within the car to have a lower center of gravity.
The power specifications of the new I-TYPE 4 boast 250kW of power (equivalent to 335bhp), a 280km/h (173mph) top speed, and 0-100 km/h acceleration of 2.8 seconds. Its total minimum weight (including driver) is 900kg (battery 385kg.
“After months of hard work we are excited to show the world the new Jaguar I-TYPE 4. We have applied all of our experience in Formula E to date and our latest innovations into the new racecar and the development team have created what we believe will be our most competitive Formula E car to date,” said James Barclay, Panasonic Jaguar Racing team director.
One of the major components to the car is the electric driveline technology, which is the lightest and most efficient powertrain the team has ever produced. An ongoing partnership with GKN Automotive, a global leader in eDrive research, will allow the exchange of expertise to further develop and innovate electric drive performance.
“The partnership with GKN Automotive is a great opportunity to share expertise in eDrive development. We appreciate the heritage that GKN Automotive has in motorsport, and look forward to exploring new ways in which we can work together to advance high-performance driveline technology in Formula E,” said Barclay.
