Given the continuous sophistication of automobile technology, Formula E organizers in November last year announced plans for an entire race dedicated to autonomous cars -- a competition known as Roborace.
Months after this announcement, Formula E unveiled last week the first ever driverless racing car that will be part of the Roborace roster.
Apparently, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) pulled all strings so that Tron: Legacy and Oblivion concept designer Daniel Simon could create this breathtaking model.
A Lean, Mean (And Green) Fighting Machine
The first ever autonomous race car design is a sleek black and light green model -- a big toy for the big boys and girls.
Simon said his ultimate goal in creating the designs for Roborace was to develop a vehicle that takes advantage of being driverless without neglecting beauty.
Aerodynamicists and racing engineers have worked with him since the beginning of the project in order to strike this balance, he said.
Simon, who is Chief Design Officer for the project, said we are living in an era where the once separated worlds of artificial intelligence and automobile are colliding with "unstoppable force."
He said it was important in their agenda to create a stunningly iconic and clean look, as well as to generate substantial downforce without having to put unnecessary parts that clutter the car.
How did they do it? Simon said they used the floor as the main aerodynamic device. In fact, he said they are currently crafting active body parts that are more seamless and organic than existing solutions.
The Future Of Electric Car Racing
Denis Sverdlo, CEO of Roborace, said Simon's expertise and passion is undeniable, and that the design will take the world by storm.
Roborace, dubbed by Sverdlov as the "global championship of intelligence", will take place during the 2016/2017 Formula E season at the same circuits found in major cities.
Although other car makers such as Ford and Toyota are developing their own driverless cars, it is not known whether they will be joining the competition.
What's more, the emerging technology is slowly starting to become omnipresent everywhere.
Sverdlov said Roborace caters to a wide audience as it is motorsport, gaming, entertainment and technology all rolled into one.
He believes that the future of cars is software: electric, driverless and connected.
"Roborace will help to make that a reality," said Sverdlov.
Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag agrees, saying that Simon's design represents a vision of what cars in the future will be.
"In Formula E we are proud to promote ... a revolution in the world of motorsport, a project that will change the future of mobility," added Agag.
