Official Vehicle Partner BMW i unveiled the new BMW i8 Roadster Safety Car at the Yacht Club de Monaco on the eve of the Monaco E-Prix. The i8 Coupe was the previous Formula E Safety Car, so seems like a natural progression to have the newer version of the car replace it. However, this is the first time in history that a safety car lacks a roof.
Guests at the presentation included Pierre Casiraghi, vice president of Yacht Club de Monaco, Formula E founder and CEO Alejandro Agag, and Dr. Robert Irlinger, Head of BMW i.
This new BMW i8 Roadster Safety Car has been modified a bit from the production car but, interestingly, it didn’t really need any structural bracing, even without a roof. That’s because of the car’s carbon fiber passenger cell. Though, there are some modifications made to the i8 Roadster for Safety Car duty. It’s been lowered, given a shorter windshield and a new FIA-approved roll bar. Along with that, it received new M Carbon Ceramic Brakes, a new front splitter and a rear wing.
BMW says the i8’s center of gravity is 15 millimeters lower, and that no major structural modifications were needed in the customization.
Safety car-specific modifications include a light bar that’s been added above the rear wing, a communications antenna, GPS antenna and a communication system inside the car.
The car was also presented toady during the Monaco e-Prix, so we will follow up with another article on that. Click below for more photos:
