NEW SEASON, NEW CAR: PANASONIC JAGUAR RACING ELECTRIFIES FORMULA E LIKE NEVER BEFORE

19 September 2018

Panasonic Jaguar Racing Season 5 Hype Film

  • Launch of Jaguar I-TYPE 3 a new-generation all-electric Formula E racecar
  • Faster, more efficient, improved range and over 800 new parts
  • Panasonic Jaguar Racing develop first powertrain entirely in-house
  • Nelson Piquet Jr and Mitch Evans will race again for the British team
  • ‘Most improved team’ aims for regular podiums and to compete as front-runners in season five
Jaguar I-TYPE 3 on track front right

London, Wednesday 19 September, 2018 ­– ­­Panasonic Jaguar Racing today unveiled the all-new Jaguar I-TYPE 3 second-generation Formula E racecar at the Design Museum, London. The bold new design pushes the boundaries of innovation and technology, showcasing the future of electric motor racing.

Today, the British team confirmed that Brazil’s Nelson Piquet Jr and New Zealander Mitch Evans will line up on the grid once again to represent Panasonic Jaguar Racing in season five of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. Last season, Piquet Jr and Evans contributed to Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s most successful season to date in 2017-18, as they more than quadrupled the team’s points from season three. The competition is set to be higher than before with an eleventh team joining the grid from the opening race in Ad Diriyah, Saudi Arabia on 15 December. This season Jaguar are aiming to compete as a front-running team, with regular podiums.

Jaguar I-TYPE 3 landscape exploded infographic

Panasonic Jaguar Racing have developed their entire powertrain in-house, reinforcing the team’s mission – ‘Race to Innovate’. These bespoke Jaguar components consist of the motor generator unit (MGU), silicon carbide module invertor, transmission, cooling system, suspension, motor control unit (MCU) and new powertrain control software. The advanced MGU revs in excess of 30,000 RPM, more than double the rate of a 2018 Formula 1 car, enabling the Jaguar I-TYPE 3 to accelerate from 0-100 KPH in 2.8 seconds.

With improved efficiency and comparable weight to the I-TYPE 2, the new powertrain is 25 per cent more powerful and produces up to 250kW (335PS). The Jaguar I-TYPE 3 has in excess of 800 new parts compared to I-TYPE 2. Over the last two seasons the I-TYPE 2 and I-TYPE 3 combined have had over 1000 new parts, demonstrating the consistent ongoing development programme which is making the team more competitive.

Improved battery technology allows Jaguar, and all other teams in ABB FIA Formula E, to drop the mandatory mid-race car swap. This season Formula E will introduce an attack mode for all teams which will enable drivers to race for a period of time at a higher power level of 225kW, activated as they drive through a clearly marked activation zone. When drivers use attack mode, their LED Halos (a new safety feature mandated by the FIA) will be illuminated in another colour for fans and spectators to identify who is using the higher power level.

Jaguar I-TYPE 3 at the Design Museum

James Barclay, Team Director Panasonic Jaguar Racing, said: “Panasonic Jaguar Racing have made great progress during our short time in Formula E. We expect that the introduction of the new Generation 2 Formula E racecar and revised sporting regulations will result in a very close season of racing. It effectively means that all teams started from the same point and at the same time. We believe we are the first team to develop our powertrain entirely in-house, this gives us ultimate control in terms of design and development and hope this will put us at a competitive advantage. The technology is moving at an incredibly fast rate, and the new Generation 2 car will be an important test bed to help develop and drive performance of our future battery electric vehicles.

“It’s fantastic to have Nelson and Mitch on board again and ensure consistency in our driver line-up. The combined knowledge, experience and speed of both drivers will help us achieve our goal to be in the points in every race and fighting for podiums.”

Jaguar I-TYPE 3 on track rear

Nelson Piquet Jr, Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver, #3, said: “Having been in the championship since day one I’ve developed as a driver with the technology and evolution of the Formula, and it’s amazing to see how fast things have changed. The Jaguar I-TYPE 3 is a new animal, with its own challenges and intricacies. The new chassis is larger and faster than our previous racecars so it will be very interesting to see how that impacts racing around the tight street circuits.”

Mitch Evans, Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver, #20, said: “Last season was our best to date and I scored some personal records including our first podium in Hong Kong and pole position in Zurich. The team have worked really hard in to make sure the Jaguar I-TYPE 3 will be competitive. We want to be fighting at the front of the grid in every race. We showed signs of this last season and have higher expectations for Season 5.”

Season 5 marks the next chapter of Jaguar Racing’s electrification journey as they prepare for the inaugural Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY series later this year. The world-first all-electric production based race series will be the official support championship to the ABB FIA Formula E Championship and will see up to 20 Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY racecars line up on the grid in the centre of a range of global cities.

Jaguar I-TYPE 3 and I-PACE eTROPHY on track

Further information

For further information about Panasonic Jaguar Racing, please contact:

Adrian Atkinson, Global PR Manager, Panasonic Jaguar Racing

Tel: +44 7979 554 005

Email: aatkins5@jaguarlandrover.com

Notes to Editors

ABOUT PANASONIC JAGUAR RACING

Jaguar returned to racing in October 2016, becoming the first premium manufacturer to join the all-electric ABB FIA Formula E Championship street racing series.

Jaguar’s Formula E programme will create tangible R&D benefits for the electrification of future Jaguar and Land Rover road cars and is designed around the team’s founding principle, ‘Race to Innovate’. 

Manufacturers can design their own powertrain, which includes the motor, transmission, inverter and rear suspension. Common components across all teams to control costs include the carbon fibre chassis and battery. The focus is on developing electric vehicle powertrains. ABB Formula E unveiled earlier this year the Generation 2 racecars. Teams will now have one racercar per driver, and no longer be required to make the mandatory car swap.

Beyond its all-electric concept, Formula E is unique in the world of motorsport for its choice of venues. The championship takes place on temporary street circuits in the centre of the world’s major cities including Riyadh, Hong Kong, Sanya, Monaco, Rome, Paris and ending in a double header weekend in New York.  

 

About the Design Museum, London

The Design Museum is the world’s leading museum devoted to contemporary architecture and design. Its work encompasses all elements of design, including fashion, product and graphic design. Since it opened its doors in 1989 the museum has displayed everything from an AK-47 to high heels designed by Christian Louboutin. It has staged over 100 exhibitions, welcomed over five million visitors and showcased the work of some of the world’s most celebrated designers and architects including Paul Smith, Zaha Hadid, Jonathan Ive, Miuccia Prada, Frank Gehry, Eileen Gray and Dieter Rams. On 24 November 2016, The Design Museum relocated to Kensington, west London. Leading architect John Pawson has converted the interior of a 1960s modernist building to create a new home for the Design Museum giving it three times more space in which to show a wider range of exhibitions and significantly extend its learning programme.

Recognised as one of the world’s leaders in the field of automotive design, Jaguar Land Rover is proud to partner with the Design Museum and support its vision for everyone to understand the value design.