The big news in the FIA's all-electric Formula E championship series is that BMW is now an official manufacturer. This was expected, since BMW worked closely with the MS Amlin-Andretti Formula E team last season. However, BMW has actually been involved with the series since its inception—as the provider of safety and support vehicles.
Possibly to draw attention to its new involvement, or perhaps just because BMW felt it was the right time, the BMW i8 Formula E Safety Cars appeared at the 2017 ePrix in New York City last week showing off a brand new paint scheme. The new look will continue at least during the rest of the season.
You may recall the original i8 Safety Car came in Crystal White Pearl Metallic with BMW i Frozen Blue accents, one of the more popular BMW i8 colors. The white background made a nice contrast for series and sponsor decals. The new i8 Safety Car sports a tri-tone color scheme with distinctive design accents.
The i8 Safety Car has an uprated powertrain said to produce around 20 horsepower more than the street version. It also has special aerodynamics, cooling fans in the rear to reduce inside temperatures, and a wireless charging system. Many i8 fans hope that BMW will incorporate some of these features with the car's mid-cycle refresh next year.
In addition to the plug-in hybrid i8 Safety Car, BMW provides all-electric i3 Medical Cars and i3 Race Control Cars, and the plug-in hybrid BMW X5 40e Rescue Car.
Long-term viability of Formula E racing appears to be improving as BMW and other carmakers join the ranks as manufacturers, not just to be involved in motorsports, but for the "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" strategy to increase sales of electric and hybrid vehicles. BMW now has nine such models in its catalog, with more to come each year.—Scott Blazey
[Photos courtesy of BMW AG.]
