The USA’s Paralympics track and field athletes will compete in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games in BMWs.
The German automaker announced Wednesday that it has been developing a new racing wheelchair for US Paralympians over the past year, adding that it will “continue working closely with athletes and coaches to integrate further enhancements and refinements as needed” in the months ahead before delivering the final product in early 2016.
Developed with the help of BMW‘s California-based global creative consultancy, DesignWorks, the wheelchair will be made of carbon fiber, instead of the more commonly used aluminum. BMW said that we will also see advancements in other areas, including aerodynamics and the steering and braking systems.
This is the forth project developed by BMW as part of their six-year partnership with Team USA, with the most recent vehicle being the two-man carbon fiber Bobsled for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games.
“Over the course of our partnership with Team USA, we have been committed to advancing athletic performance through technology transfer initiatives which help to address their training and equipment needs,” said Trudy Hardy, Vice President, Marketing of BMW North America. “This one is special not only because it presents a unique design challenge, but it helps solve a bigger mobility challenge for our Paralympic athletes.”
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