A very recent arrival from Romania is BMW i4 M50 as “Elsa”-Racing car, not street legal. It was developed by the private racing team “Engage Racing” in combination with the support of the BMW branch located there. And as far as I know, it is the first racing car to be built on the basis of an i4 M50.
BMW i4 M50 “Elsa”
“Elsa” retains the Set-up with the double engines which has a performance of 536 PS (400 kW) and 795 Nm torque generated. And also the Lithium-ion battery with the usable capacity of 81,3 kWh remains unchanged. So what does “Elsa” So what makes it so special? Among other things, aerodynamics. It is significantly modified and includes a massive rear wing as well as one XXL diffuser. And the huge front spoiler is of course also worth mentioning.
And around Save weight, the entire body has become significantly lighter. This was achieved by removing “all” sound-absorbing materials. And instead of normal glass, Plexiglass panels used. And also the Interior has been reduced to the essentials.
many racing changes inside
A complete roll cage to Pikes Peak Specification protects the occupants, while the new Dashboard made of carbon many buttons for different functions. Some can even be individually configured for particularly quick access during the race. Although the rear doors are still installed, there is of course only room for two seats. Specifically, Sabelt bucket seats with racing belts.
In terms of driving dynamics, “Elsa” now relies on special Drexler limited-slip differentials front and rear, whereby the suspension tuning from the Dutch company Intrax was implemented. They have special Shock absorbers and springs developed to handle the weight of the electric car. Although the curb weight is not yet known, it is clear that the racing car is lighter than the series. I guess from the 2.215 kg about 400 kg have gone.
No sound, no problem!
A artificial sound generator helps the driver to better estimate the speed and also serves as a “security measure“to warn viewers. The development of “Elsa” lasted about 1 year and was carried out by a team of nine engineers. The aim was to participate in the legendary Pikes Peak Hill ClimbI am curious to see whether, after some financial setbacks this year, participation will be possible in 2025. In any case, I'll keep my fingers crossed!
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Electric racing car: the 2024 BMW i4 M50 “Elsa” is here!
Photo credit / Source: BMW / bmwblog.com
