My thoughts on all things motoring, press releases, reviews & techie stuff, from around the world.
Please note that the pictures of vehicles within this blog are used as examples of the specific press releases, on occasions, due to the lack of available official pictures, examples are re-produced.
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Purpose
I will try my best to provide detailed info on various cars and what is like to live with them, I have already produced a few for Jaguar-car-forums, I will do my best to be unbiased, but it will be hard for some cars. I will re-produce press releases and copy from other motoring news.
Showing posts with label Formula E Championship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Formula E Championship. Show all posts
Jaguar Land Rover, Britain’s largest R&D investor, underscores its commitment to ‘Race To Innovate’ using the Formula E championship as a platform to develop the next generation of electric powered road cars and to inspire the next generation of engineers
Noodle to drive skills gap campaign inspiring young people to become future engineers and innovators and to join the @JaguarRacing crew
This week, Jaguar Land Rover announced its commitment to addressing the skills gap that manufacturing is facing worldwide by appointing Noodle, Japanese guitarist and founding member of virtual band Gorillaz, as global ambassador to inspire young people to pursue education and careers in technology and engineering.
Jaguar Land Rover, the UK’s leading investor in Research and Development, plans to use its entry into Formula E to promote the company’s efforts to shape the future by solving the technology innovation and skills gap challenges.
Panasonic Jaguar Racing will spearhead a campaign that will help underline the important role Formula E will play in developing the next generation of electric vehicle technology. Noodle will help to highlight the opportunities this gives young people to get involved and be a part of the biggest change the car industry has ever seen – the electrication of vehicle powertrain technology.
Fiona Pargeter, Global PR Communications Director, Jaguar Land Rover, said, “By 2022 we’re facing a shortfall of 300,000 skilled engineers in the UK alone. It is our responsibility to change this future by inspiring young people. Yes we want to be successful on track, but Formula E can be a once in a generation opportunity to inspire the future generations of engineers. A global platform to inspire and attract young children to a career in innovation and engineering – through Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s partnership with Noodle we hope to inspire millions of young people to help invent the future.”
Noodle is the 21st Century Japanista and founding member of Gorillaz. The band has released five albums since 2000, selling in excess of 100 million records globally.
Talking about her new role as part of the @JaguarRacing team helping to inspire the next generation of young engineers, male and female, Noodle said, “The young minds of today are the engineers of tomorrow. We are in the driving seat and our imaginations are the fuel. It’s time to lead the charge and build a better world!”
First all-electric Jaguar Racing car, the I-TYPE 1, unveiled in full race livery and set to inspire a new generation of fans
Panasonic announced as official title partner for Jaguar's return to global motorsport in the FIA Formula E Championship
Driver line-up mixes youth and experience of Adam Carroll, Mitch Evans and reserve driver Ho-Pin Tung to spearhead Jaguar's Formula E campaign
Jaguar Land Rover, Britain's largest R&D investor, underscores its commitment to 'Race To Innovate' using the championship as a platform to develop the next generation of electric powered road cars
Panasonic Jaguar Racing set to make its debut in Hong Kong in the opening race of the third FIA Formula E season on Sunday 9 October 2016 following a successful test program
Jaguar today takes the wraps off its new electric motorsport future, revealing its Formula E team's official name, vision, title sponsor, driver line-up and electric racing livery.
From this October, Panasonic Jaguar Racing will compete in the third FIA Formula E season with the first all-electric Jaguar racing car in history: the I-TYPE 1.
At the launch event at the Jaguar Collections Centre, the new I-TYPE 1 made a dramatic debut driven by the team's official reserve driver Ho-Pin Tung and outlining the brands commitment to 'Race To Innovate' - a mission to change the perception of electric vehicles, to develop new electric technology and to inspire future generations.
In addition, Jaguar revealed an exciting race driver line-up with Adam Carroll and Mitch Evans confirmed to drive the I-TYPE 1 in the team's inaugural season. This driver line up will spearhead Jaguar's return to top-level racing.
Jaguar detailed its partnership with Panasonic that will see the leading electronics and automotive technology company partner with the Jaguar Racing Formula E team to develop a future that promises to push the boundaries of electric technology in a performance environment.
In addition, Jaguar was pleased to announce Lear Corporation will join the team as an Official Team Partner.
Gerd Mäuser, Chairman of Panasonic Jaguar Racing said: "Today marks a new chapter in the history of Jaguar Racing. As the first premium car manufacturer in Formula E we are proud to be back in top-level motorsport. The future is changing and we're part of that change.
We can't wait to begin racing competitively in inner city locations inspiring a whole new generation of@JaguarRacingfans to join us on this exciting journey. Formula E is the perfect platform to inspire the next generation."
Jaguar Land Rover employs 9,000 engineers and is Britain's largest research and development investor across any business sector.
Nick Rogers, Executive Director, Product Engineering at Jaguar Land Rover, underlined the important role Formula E will play in developing next generation electric vehicle technology and the importance of electric vehicles in Jaguar Land Rover's future product portfolio.
Rogers said: "Over the next five years we will see more changes in the automotive world than in the last three decades. The championship will enable us to engineer and test our advanced technologies under extreme performance conditions. We will apply this vital knowledge as part of our real world development.
At Jaguar Land Rover we employ 9,000 engineers and the team will draw on these engineers to extract data and push the boundaries of electric technology in a race environment."
The Panasonic Jaguar Racing team has successfully completed 21 days of testing, up to and including the last Formula E public test, which finished at Donington Park Circuit yesterday.
James Barclay, Panasonic Jaguar Racing Team Director said: "Today is a proud moment for myself and the entire Panasonic Jaguar Racing team at our official launch. Everyone has worked very hard over the last nine months to prepare for our debut in the Championship. I am delighted to welcome Adam, Mitch and Ho-Pin, Panasonic, Lear and all of our new fans into the Jaguar family.
"We want to be successful on and off the track. We know that the challenge will be strong - our competitors have a two-year head start. We will be keeping our expectations in check in our first season.
Ultimately we're here to win but we're here to innovate too. I would like to thank Jean Todt and his team at the FIA and Alejandro Agag and his team at Formula E for their vision in building this innovative series and for their help and support over the last 12 months with Jaguar's entry."
Panasonic Jaguar Racing Team Drivers
Adam Carroll, 33 years old, Northern Ireland
Adam brings speed and experience to Jaguar in a career that spans from karting, to F3, GP2, A1GP, IndyCar and WEC. He has also successfully carried out the bulk of Panasonic Jaguar's Formula E testing duties.
Adam Carroll said: "It's a real privilege to be racing for Jaguar in Formula E. You only have to look at the calibre of the other drivers in the series to see the level of competitiveness and prestige that this championship now has. To drive for Jaguar is also a dream come true. They are the biggest brand to come into the series and one of the most evocative names in racing."
Mitch Evans, 22 years old, New Zealand
With multiple karting and open-wheel championship titles to his name including the 2012 GP3 Championship, Mitch is a young driver with proven race credentials. He has also competed in the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing 2nd in class in 2015. In 2016 he has competed in the GP2 Series for Campos Racing.
Mitch Evans commented: "Formula E is a real drivers' championship with some of the most competitive racing in the world.
Any of the drivers will tell you how challenging it is to find the limit in a Formula E car and gain those extra tenths and I'm looking forward to the season ahead. Some of history's most iconic cars have been developed by Jaguar, and I'm thrilled to be part of Jaguar's electric future and our return to motorsport."
Ho-Pin Tung, 33 years old, China
Ho-Pin joins Panasonic Jaguar Racing with extensive open-wheel racing experience including F3, A1GP, GP2, WEC, IndyCar and F1 testing. Tung also brings real-world Formula E experience to the team, having competed in three races in the inaugural FIA Formula E Championship.
Ho-Pin Tung said: "I believe that Jaguar's entry to the series is a significant moment for the FIA Formula E Championship. I have direct experience of racing in this series and have seen how effectively Formula E brings a thrilling showcase of next generation technologies right to the cities of fans around the world.
I am looking forward to making a meaningful contribution to this future of electric mobility and to Jaguar's significant racing legacy."
On Monday 25 April, Beijing Motor Show saw the premiere of a new DS Automobiles model exclusively for the Chinese market: DS 4S. Designed in France and produced at the Shenzhen production facility in China, the premium hatchback, a true expression of technology and refinement, is a key strength in the brand's product offensive in the compact car segment. Beijing Motor Show also provides an opportunity for DS Automobiles to highlight its strong commitment to the Formula E Championship with the presence of DSV-01, the electric single-seater of the DS Virgin Racing team.
An essential event for automotive enthusiasts and media alike, the Beijing Motor Show will be marked by the launch of a new DS model, exclusively for the Chinese market: the premium compact car, DS 4S. By strengthening its range, DS Automobiles has everything it takes to fulfil the expectations of Chinese drivers. The new exclusive model further demonstrates the refinement, dynamism and comfort that are the hallmarks of the DS brand.
Visitors will be able to admire DS 4S in stunning Dark Fire red body paint, together with DS 6, DS 5LS, and a DS 5 with an exclusive Matt Gold paint. The 700 m2 show stand will also display an original DS 21 cloaked in a splendid tone of red, as a symbol of the brand’s heritage and approach to avant-garde design.
DS 4S, A SYMBOL OF THE DS PRODUCT OFFENSIVE IN THE COMPACT SEGMENT
A premium compact hatchback with extremely dynamic styling, DS 4S is the latest model to complete the DS range currently available in China, which includes DS 5 (hatchback), DS 5 LS (three-box saloon) and DS 6 (SUV).
A strong expression of the DS brand identity, the ‘DS Wings’ grille features on DS 4S. The DS LED Vision headlights embody the brand's refinement and spirit of avant-garde.
For its launch, DS 4S boasts an exclusive, deep and dynamic body colour: Dark Fire red. Equipped with the latest-generation EAT6 automatic gearbox, DS 4S is available with three petrol engines ranging from 136hp to 204hp. DS 4S also marks the Chinese debut of the PureTech engine, voted as a ‘2015 International Engine of the Year’.
Inside, refinement hits new heights with the upholstery, both in terms of the quality of the materials used and the exclusive DS finish. The dashboard and door panels are covered in high-grade leather, demonstrating luxury Parisian craftsmanship. The seats feature ‘watchstrap-style’ upholstery, a true innovation and an exclusive feature of DS Automobiles’ models. The red leather enhances the image of refinement and meticulous attention to detail, both characteristics of French-style luxury and DS Automobiles. Furthermore, the brand’s ongoing commitment to connectivity is apparent with DS 4S benefiting from DS CONNECT technology (navigation, safety and communication functions).
DSV-01, A SYMBOL OF THE BRAND'S STRONG TECHNOLOGICAL COMMITMENT
Since September 2015, the all-electric single-seater of the DS Virgin Racing team has been travelling the world from one FIA Formula E Championship race to another. A scale replica of DSV-01 will be on show at the DS stand to share the brand’s commitment to the Formula E Championship with the public.
DSV-01 is the result of the partnership between Virgin Racing and DS Automobiles. The DS Performance motorsport division – a team of experienced engineers involved in developing the car – worked in particular on the powertrain, cooling system, rear suspension and transmission.
This commitment to Formula E showcases all the boldness that drives the DS brand. As such, the championship stands as an excellent opportunity for the DS brand to assert its technological know-how and to confirm its dynamism. The DSV-01 electric single-seater has a top speed of 155mph and accelerates from 0 to 62mph in under four seconds.
DS IN CHINA
4 models (DS 5, DS 5LS, DS 6 and DS 4S)
1 production site in Shenzhen
More than 100 DS Stores in 60 cities and a DS World in Shanghai
20% of the DS brand's global sales
DS 4S IN BRIEF
6 body colours: Dark Fire red (exclusive), Silver Grey, Pearl White, Hickory Brown, Black Perla & Whisper
3 engines: PureTech 130, THP 160 & THP200
5 trim levels: Comfort, Fashion, Luxury, Luxury Technology & Prestige
Jaguar Land Rover confirms its electric future with entry for Jaguar into the innovative FIA Formula E Championship
Formula E to provide a real world performance test bed for future Jaguar Land Rover technology
Jaguar Land Rover, the UK's leading investor in research and development, strengthens its commitment to British engineering by extending development of electrification technology into the racing environment
Jaguar Land Rover engineers will work directly with Jaguar's race team to push the boundaries of electrification technology
Jaguar today announced its return to global motorsport. In the autumn of 2016, Jaguar will enter the third season of the exciting FIA Formula E Championship as a manufacturer with its own team. FIA Formula E is the world’s first global single-seater championship for electric powered cars.
FIA Formula E offers a unique opportunity for Jaguar Land Rover to further the development of future EV powertrain including motor and battery technology.
Nick Rogers, Group Engineering Director for Jaguar Land Rover, said: “I am proud to announce Jaguar's return to racing with an entry into the innovative FIA Formula E championship.
Electric vehicles will absolutely play a role in Jaguar Land Rover's future product portfolio and Formula E will give us a unique opportunity to further our development of electrification technologies. The Championship will enable us to engineer and test our advanced technologies under extreme performance conditions.
"It is my belief that over the next five years we will see more changes in the automotive world than in the last three decades.
The future is about being more connected and more sustainable; electrification and lightweight technologies are becoming more important than ever as urbanisation continues to increase. Formula E has recognised and reacted to these trends and the championship's exciting and pioneering approach is the perfect fit for our brand."
Jaguar Land Rover employs over 8,000 engineers and is the UK's largest investor in research and development across any business sector. Jaguar's Formula E team will be able to draw upon this industry leading resource with Jaguar Land Rover engineers working closely with the race operations team.
Those engineers will not only be able to apply their knowledge within the race team environment but crucially use the experience to extract data and push the boundaries of electric technology in a performance environment.
Williams Advanced Engineering will be Technical Partner to the Jaguar Formula E Team and provide extensive motorsport knowledge, combined with high performance EV Systems experience and success.
Alejandro Agag, Chief Executive Officer for Formula E, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jaguar into Formula E. Jaguar is a brand with a rich sporting heritage and the fact that it is returning to global motorsport with Formula E is a huge endorsement of the championship and its ability to influence the development of electric cars.
Jaguar brings with it a passionate fan base that will drive the popularity of the championship across the world and once again shows that Formula E is the future of motorsport.”
Jean Todt, President of the FIA said: “The FIA is pleased to welcome Jaguar as a new manufacturer to enter the FIA Formula E Championship. We built this series to offer an alternative competition for manufacturers to step into the sport and develop road-relevant electric technologies.
The choice of Jaguar to come back to motor racing with Formula E is a proof of success. As it forges a path forward for the future of the electric car, Formula E managed to attract one of the most prestigious and historical brand across the automotive industry. I wish them success ahead of their arrival in 2016/2017.”
James Barclay, Jaguar Team Director, said: “We looked in detail at alternative ways of returning to motorsport. This was such an important decision for Jaguar and we wanted to get it right. With our future EV plans, Formula E was the obvious choice and we believe that the benefits are enormous.
The FIA and the promoter have exciting plans for the future of the championship and we are proud to be one of the first vehicle manufacturers to commit to the series with our own team. We have a lot of work to do ahead of the first race but it is a challenge we relish. We hope that we can welcome a new generation of fans to Jaguar through this exciting programme.”
More details on Jaguar’s return to racing including team presentation, drivers and partners will be released in the run up to season three.
Renault e.dams’ Sebastien Buemi made the perfect start to his FIA Formula E Championship campaign at the Beijing ePrix on Saturday 24 October by claiming pole position and fastest race lap en route to a dominant victory. But it was also a bittersweet weekend for the French squad, which was forced to retire Nico Prost’s car after a rear wing failure.
Renault e.dams’ new-for-2015/16 powertrain again proved its potential during practice, qualifying and the race when both Buemi and Prost were able to post consistently quick lap times.
Although the Renault Z.E.15 demonstrated its pace in Saturday morning’s practice sessions, it was qualifying that cemented the team’s position as a force to be reckoned with when both drivers topped their respective groups and successfully made it through to the all-new Super Pole shoot out. While Nico held top spot during most of the session, it was Buemi that snatched pole position from his teammate with a lightning fast 1m37.297s lap.
Swiss-born Buemi then enjoyed a practically perfect race by claiming fastest lap en route to his and the team’s first victory of the new season. Prost, meanwhile, struggled off the line, losing his second position to Mahindra’s Nick Heidfeld before Lucas di Grassi (ABT Schaeffler Audi) also nipped past. The trio battled throughout the first half of the race while Buemi extended his lead.
It was the halfway point of the race that would prove vital for the Frenchman as a flawless pit stop from the squad helped him re-gain third from Heidfeld. However, his luck would soon run out when Race Control deemed his car unsafe to continue as a result of a rear wing failure.
Seb meanwhile went on to take the chequered flag and a first win of the season by 11 seconds from runner-up di Grassi and Heidfeld, who completed the podium after Prost’s forced retirement.
Seb’s commanding victory, fastest lap (1m39.993s) and pole position helped him score a maximum 30 points.
He therefore heads to Round 2 as championship leader, while Renault e.dams also top the teams’ standings. The squad will look into the rear wing fault that brought Prost’s first race of the season to an unfortunate end.
Nico’s promising pace and performance throughout the weekend suggest he will be able to bounce back stronger in Putrajaya.
Vincent Gaillardot, Renault Sport Formula E Project Leader: “We worked hard at Donington so we came to this race feeling fairly prepared and had trouble-free running. That meant we were able to focus on race set-up and the drivers could make the most of their time on track. It’s a good starting point for us but we’ve also seen that some of the other manufacturers are not far off our pace.”
#8 Nico Prost: “It’s certainly a frustrating way to round out the weekend. I felt like we could’ve fought for the podium finish, which would have been great for the team. We’re not really too sure what happened yet with the rear wing, but it seems something came loose and I was unable to continue. You know, this is racing and these things happen. I’m hoping I can come back with a stronger result in Putrajaya.”
#9 Sebastien Buemi: “It’s a great feeling to win the first race of the season and be awarded all of the available points – I’ve never had that before! Everything was perfect; the new powertrain from Renault, the battery, the team. To be honest, in the race, I had a bad start but managed to hold on to my position and bring the car home for the win. After such a strong start and good haul of points I’m really looking forward to Malaysia.”
Formula E returns to Putrajaya, Malaysia, on November 7 for Round 2 of the FIA’s all-electric series.
DS Virgin Racing will take to the streets of Beijing next weekend with a new driver line-up, new partners, a new powertrain and plenty of momentum.
The FIA Formula E Championship returns for a second season in Beijing on 24 October and the DS Virgin Racing team will be looking to continue where they left off at the end of season one.
Back in June, home favourite Sam Bird stormed to a win in the final round in London. The British driver will be looking to build on a promising first season – which also saw him pick up a win in Malaysia – alongside new recruit, Frenchman Jean-Éric Vergne.
With the arrival of the DS brand, the race car also has a new look for season two. Combining the DS and Virgin brand identities, the new design represents a dynamic integration of both the DS Automobiles and Virgin colour schemes, and maintains the distinctive red and chrome features from season one. The DS brand logo now appears proudly on each side of the car on a black background, alongside fellow partner Hewlett Packard Enterprise. The battery cover remains purple as in season one.
It is not just the outside of the car that is different. Changes to the technical regulations have enabled teams, including DS Virgin Racing, to develop their own electric powertrains for season two. The team has chosen to re-design its powertrain significantly in order to increase efficiency – and in order to account for the increase in race power allowed in season two, which rises from 150kW to 170kW. This package was tested extensively in the pre-season and proved to be reliable, but it is difficult to predict how it will stand up versus the competition until all of the teams hit the streets in Beijing.
Additional changes to Fanboost, meanwhile, will give fans the chance to vote for Sam and Jean-Éric until six minutes into the race, providing a power boost of 100kJ of additional energy that can be used during the rest of the race.
Speaking ahead of the season opener, Sam Bird said; “To finish last season the way we did in London was really special, so I’m hoping that we can build on that and come into the new season with the same impetus. It was a great feeling to get on the podium in Beijing last year and I’ll be looking to go one, or hopefully two better this time around!”
Jean-Éric Vergne said; “I’m very excited to have joined DS Virgin Racing and I’m looking forward to getting things off to a positive start in Beijing. I didn’t race here last year so it will be interesting to get out on the track and experience another unique street circuit.”
Alex Tai, DS Virgin Racing Team Principal, said; “It is unbelievable how quickly a year goes by. This time last year, we entered into the relatively unknown world of electric racing, during the first season we learned a great deal and have developed strongly as a race team. I believe we have brought great talent into the team both on and off the track and adding this to the experience learned in the first year I feel confident we will deliver a strong performance in the coming season starting right here in Beijing.
Yves Bonnefont, CEO of the DS Brand, said; “Following the announcement of our new partnership with Virgin Racing in June, it has been an exciting few months for the DS brand working towards our first race in Beijing. Having recently marked our 60th anniversary, it would be fantastic to celebrate this special landmark with a race to remember, particularly in China which is a very important market for us.”
