Audi reveals its Formula E car

Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler has revealed the Volkswagen Group's first fully-electric racecar, the Audi e-tron FE04. At the press conference for the reveal, the team announced that Daniel Abt has become an Audi factory driver and will continue to partner 2016/17 FIA Formula E champion, Lucas di Grassi for season four, which opens on the streets of Hong Kong in December.

In addition, Audi sports car legend Allan McNish will increase his involvement as the new team principal of the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler outfit, having previously held the role of project coordinator for Audi Sport in Formula E.

The new livery, which features white, metallic green and black as the base colors, distinguishes the Audi e-tron FE04 from the team's predecessors, while Daniel Abt's car will bear additional red color markings, which are intended to make it easier to distinguish the two cars. Reigning champion di Grassi has chosen to adorn his car with the No. 1 for the 2017/18 FIA Formula E Championship as he looks to become the first back-to-back champion.

"After nearly 40 years of being successfully active in motorsport on the highest level, Audi now becomes the first German automobile manufacturer to compete in Formula E in order to test and advance the development of new technologies for production," said Peter Mertens, Member of the Board of Management, Technical Development, Audi AG. "Following quattro, TFSI, TDI, hybrid drive and many other innovations, our first single-seater racecar is a portent of our product offensive in the field of electric mobility that we are ringing in with the Audi e-tron in 2018."

Audi recently announced it will have more than 20 electrified models in its range before 2025, including plug-in-hybrids and fully-electric cars.

"Together with our technology partner Schaeffler, we have developed a completely new powertrain," noted Dieter Gass, Head of Audi Motorsport. "You can immediately tell this by looking at the new carbon housing of the powertrain. The car also sounds different because we're pursuing new avenues in technology."

The Audi e-tron FE04 will make its racing debut at the Formula E season opener in Hong Kong on Dec. 2-3.