BMW unveiled its eye-catching Formula E contender just a few days ago, and it seems inevitable that the German brand’s future electric road cars will be affected by the racer.
Officially dubbed the iFE.18, BMW’s all-electric single-seater certainly looks the part. Like all competitors racing in the latest season of Formula E, the car is based around the Gen2 chassis and looks much more futuristic than the previous cars used in the series. A head-turning blue and white livery make BMW’s entry among the most impressive.
As Top Gear notes, the all-electric powertrain of the iFE.18 was developed by the same engineers that worked on the i3 and i8’s drivetrains. Since racing improves the breed, it’s only natural that lessons learned from the iFE.18 will play their part in the development of future i models.
In accordance with the sport’s regulations, power from the iFE.18 is capped at 335 hp in qualifying mode and 268 hp in race mode. Those figures aren’t that impressive, but the vehicle’s lightweight construction means it can reach 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 2.8 seconds and continue through to 149 mph (240 km/h).
Rumors about the next-generation BMW i8 have been rife in recent years. In fact, claims going back to 2016 asserted that the car could make a monumental leap in performance and offer up to 750 hp through its advanced hybrid powertrain.
While we’re sceptical about this actually happening, BMW will certainly fit the vehicle with new-age electric motors and a new-and-improved battery, which should offer both increased output and a longer range.
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