Audi launches Gen2 Formula E car for season five

The Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler Formula E squad has unveiled its new Gen2 car – dubbed the e-tron FE05 – ahead of the upcoming 2018/19 season.

Audi is aiming to defend the teams’ championship it won during season four and will once again field the same driver line-up consisting of season three champion Lucas di Grassi and Daniel Abt.

The German manufacturer said its e-tron FE05 - which features a revised livery concept – is an “evolution” of the its 2017/18 challenger and features a powertrain made up of 95 percent new parts, while claiming to have shaved 10 percent of the weight.

“We retained the basic concept with one gear and at the same time refined the details and manufactured all of the parts,” said Audi Formula E project leader Tristan Summerscale.

He added that development of the team’s Gen2 car began as early as mid-2017 and even before the start of last season.

Audi will also supply the Virgin Racing team with e-tron FE05 powertrains in the upcoming campaign, after the British squad ended its collaboration with DS Automobiles.

The team’s Gen2 challenger – which includes greater battery capacity and power that eliminates the need for mid-race car swaps – will make its public on-track debut at pre-season testing at Valencia later this month before season five gets underway in Saudi Arabia on December 15.