New-look 'kimono-themed' Nissan e.dams breaks cover ahead of 2019/20 season

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New-look 'kimono-themed' Nissan e.dams breaks cover ahead of 2019/20 season

Following a successful pre-season testing in Valencia, Nissan e.dams team unveils its Japan-inspired livery for the 2019/20 season of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship.

New-look 'kimono-themed' Nissan e.dams breaks cover ahead of 2019/20 season

Just days after the Nissan e.dams squad returned from pre-season testing in Valencia, the team pulled the covers off its new 2019/20 season challenger at its headquarters in Yokohama, revealing its 'kimono-inspired' Gen2 car. 

Nissan claim the red, black and white design is inspired by the Japanese kimono garment, a traditional symbol of longevity and good fortune. It will also be featured on the Nissan Leaf NISMO RC, the dual electric-motor performance vehicle based on the Nissan Leaf electric car.

“As we approach the beginning of our second season of Formula E competition, our design team proposed a new look, one that celebrates our Japanese heritage and vibrant technology DNA,” said Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan’s senior vice president for global design.

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“We used our iconic Nissan racing red, black and white colours layered diagonally in a kimono pattern, which creates a dynamic and powerful impression.”

The car's design was picked after nearly 40 of Nissan's in-house designers submitted concepts for the colour scheme. 

Buemi and Rowland back behind the wheel 

After a successful debut season, Nissan once again picked seasoned Formula E driver Sebastien Buemi and Oliver Rowland to front its driver lineup for the 2019/20 season. With a new powertrain, the team will take on the toughest, most competitive line up in the history of the all-electric championship as they go head-to-head with new entrants Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, alongside the established line up of manufacturers. 

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“The second season is sometimes harder than the first,” said Michael Carcamo, Nissan’s global motorsports director. “With a major change to a single-motor solution, we had plenty to do in the off-season.

"We'll use everything we learned from season five to improve our package, with an even greater emphasis on battery and energy management."

In its first season, the team managed a second place finish in the teams' championship after six podium finishes, six pole positions and 16 Super Pole qualifying appearances combined by Buemi and Rowland, making Nissan e.dams the best qualifying team in the championship. The team ended the season with its first ever victory during the final race weekend in New York.

“Finishing second as a team last year was great,” said Buemi. “This year, the objective is to fight for the championship.”

Rowland, who scooped the best-performing Formula E rookie last season after clinching three pole positions and two podium finishes, continues with the team for a second season.

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 “I really appreciate Nissan taking a bit of a risk with me last year, as I was a rookie and started quite late,” Rowland said. “Luckily, it worked out for all of us, and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel again, pushing forward and improving.”

With pre-season testing over, all 12 teams will head to Saudi Arabia for the double-header season opener on November 22. From there, 13 races follow over five contents as all teams battle for the championship title. It's all to play for.