This is Nissan's Gen 3 Formula E race car
Nissan has officially unveiled its Gen 3 Formula E car at an exclusive media event in Madrid, Spain. Although the event organisers, Formula E, already unveiled the blueprint for the base car earlier in April this year, it's only now that participating manufacturers are revealing their customisations of the race car.
For season 9, Nissan incorporated Sakura, an eye-catching cherry blossom pattern, into its car. This iconic flower is a nod to the squad's Japanese DNA but also symbolises a new beginning.
Compared to the Gen 2 car, Gen 3 is much lighter in weight, has a shorter wheelbase (2,971 mm), shorter height (1,023 mm) and an impressive 5,016 mm length (down from 5,200 mm). Further improvements are made to the power output as it now stands at 350 kW with a 600 kW maximum regeneration. Top speed now stands at 320 km/h.
That makes the Gen 3 model the fastest and the first-ever Formula car with both front and rear powertrains.
The new design also signals management changes to the team as Nissan takes full ownership of its operations in Formula E.
"Season 9 marks a new era for Nissan's participation in the championship. It will be our fifth time competing in Formula E but our first as one team. We have a long racing history and love to dare to do what others don't. Our new livery celebrates our Japanese heritage, and I'm certain the design will stand out on the track like never before. I'm excited for the season to get underway, and I am confident we have all we need to make the Gen3 era a very successful one for us at Nissan," says Ashwani Gupta, Nissan's Chief Operating Officer.
Nissan's team will include two new drivers, Sacha Fenestraz and Norman Nato. Frenchman Nato will compete in the number 17 car, while Franco-Argentine Fenestraz will take to the wheel of the number 23 machine.
Alongside Nissan, other manufacturers to look forward to this season include Porsche, Jaguar, Mahindra, Maserati and newcomers McLaren.
Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship kicks off at the famous Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City on 14 January 2023.