Audi has unveiled its first works entry Formula E car, which compete in the upcoming 2017/18 season, during a launch in Neuburg on Wednesday.
The German manufacturer has competed in the series since its inception, but as a technical partner of the Schaeffler-backed Abt outfit. From season four, it will be a standalone entry under the Audi brand and will therefore use Audi's 'e-tron' branding alongside chassis designation FE04.
The car's livery has dramatically changed, with the team dropping the majority red, yellow and green design for a more muted white with green and black accents.
Reigning champion Lucas di Grassi and Daniel Abt remain team-mates, with the two cars differentiated by red accents on Abt's car.
Peter Mertens, Member of the Board of Management, Technical Development at Audi AG, stressed that Audi were the first German manufacturer to enter a factory team into the series, with BMW and Mercedes set to join in season five and six respetively.
"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," he said at the launch.
"Following quattro, TFSI, TDI, hybrid drive and many other innovations, our first single-seater race car 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."
Allan McNish has been installed as team principal following a year of learning during season three, in which he supported the outfit.
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