Formula E is developing a new racing series dedicated towards electric SUVs dubbed ‘Extreme E’ which will race across some of the world’s toughest terrain.
Motorsport reports that the series is expected to launch in 2020 and has already been presented to manufacturers. All of the vehicles will be based around a common chassis, but entrants will be able to develop their own electric motors and bodywork.
Former racer and recently appointed McLaren Formula 1 sporting director Gil de Ferran and Formula E chief executive and founder Alejandro Agag are leading the project.
“Extreme E – all I can say is that it’s a new project that will be operated by Formula E. Formula E will take over the operation of that new project – the new project is still in very early stages”, Agag said.
“But hopefully Gil de Ferran, who is leading the project, will do an announcement soon with more details. But that’s all I can say.”
It will be interesting to see which manufacturers will enter the series, but the organizers have been prompted to use SUV-shaped vehicles due to the ever-increasing demand for such vehicles.
Extreme E will reportedly race through locations including the Himalayas and the Arctic Circle.
In the last couple of years, Formula E has become a hotbed for electric vehicle development and is proving particularly important for automakers wanting to promote their EVs. Season six will see the addition of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche to the field that already includes Audi Sport, BMW, DS Automobiles, Jaguar Land Rover, Nissan, Nio, Mahindra Racing and Venturi Automobiles.
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