Carrera DIGITAL 132 Formula E “Venturi Racing – Nick Heidfeld”
Item No.: 20030706
<< Carrera Online Shop >>
Technical data:
Weight (complete vehicle with magnets): 71 grams
Weight (body): 16 grams
Length including spoiler: 155 mm
Wheelbase: 97 mm
Track width (front axle): 54 mm
Track width (rear axle): 52 mm
Other: narrow center magnet, new digital decoder Art. No. 26744
Body/Appearance:
A racing series featuring all-electric Formula cars – it was only logical to bring these to the racetrack in a scaled-down version. For the third model, Nick Heidfeld's – now former – company car was chosen. This gained media attention because Nick, Heidfeld, and Nicolas Prost were involved in a spectacular crash at the opening race in Beijing in 2014. Heidfeld's car was thrown several meters into the air and into a safety fence, which he fortunately survived without any significant injuries.
Black bodies are always problematic because they're difficult to see on the equally black track. However, the red stripes and the flag pattern on the rear cover provide a focal point.
The other two Formula E models have silver rims; here they are black with a thin red rim. This gives the model a certain uniqueness compared to the other two.
Also worth mentioning are the recess for the gearbox in the rear and a side recess to the left below the driver, under which the LED of the digital decoder is located.
The front spoiler is attached as usual; otherwise, there are no mirrors or other small parts that could break off or get lost while driving. The rear spoiler extends almost the entire width of the vehicle at the bottom and is mounted relatively solidly.
Chassis/Technology:
With a total weight of just 71 grams, the model is extremely lightweight. It uses the narrow, longer engine familiar from many other Formula cars.
Due to the narrow body shape with the sidepods set far back, a new digital decoder (item no. 26744) is used here, which will also be available separately for retrofitting the analog Evolution models. The LED is mounted so that it lies outside the circuit board area.
Furthermore, the center magnet is significantly narrower than the normally sized rear magnet.
Driving behavior:
Due to its low weight and formula construction, the car is a true ground-breaking rocket, with the engine also contributing significantly. On smaller home tracks, the top speed is practically impossible to achieve. I therefore decided not to conduct a road test without magnets or with partial equipment, as handling would be a very special challenge in this case. With the top speed reduced by the BB/CU, the handling then moves into more controllable territory, but even here, it's a good idea to leave both magnets in the chassis.
Conclusion:
Formula cars aren't necessarily my favorites. Given the theme and the wide variety of designs offered by the Formula E racing series, it would have been negligent not to take advantage of this opportunity. The models offer a good compromise between visual finesse and robust construction. And if more designs follow in the future, they will also be more suitable for racing than the similarly constructed F1 cars, in the spirit of equal opportunity.
Best regards,
CoMod Chris
***************************************************************************
Carrera DIGITAL 132 Formula E Audi Sport 'Lucas di Grassi, No.11'
Item No.: 20030705
<< Carrera Online Shop >>
The FIA Formula E Championship has been running since September 13, 2014, and is contested exclusively on street circuits worldwide. Therefore, it was a big surprise for us in late autumn 2014 that the first Formula E cars would appear in the 2015 schedule. Carrera was actually just acting logically: Who else would launch electric cars than the largest provider of electric racetracks? ;-)
Electric cars have existed since the invention of the automobile. In the early years, it wasn't entirely clear which concept would prevail: gasoline was expensive, while electricity was more readily available. As we all know, the gasoline engine won, but even then, the main problem was the size and weight of the batteries. And while Mercedes introduced the neon-yellow SLS AMG GTS with four wheel hub motors two years ago, the idea isn't exactly new: The Lohner-Porsche at the 1900 World's Fair already had electric motors built into its spoked rims.
Now, the Lohner Porsche isn't quite comparable to today's Formula E racing cars. The electric Porsche from the turn of the century had a top speed of around 50 km/h and a range of 50 km with its 410 kg lead battery. The Formula E cars are a bit faster and can also go a bit further: top speed of 220 km/h and range of 200 km.
The teams in the 2014/15 Formula E season all compete with the same car, the Spark-Renault SRT 01E. The chassis and aerodynamics of the vehicles are specified, but work on the engine and batteries during the season is permitted. All teams use Michelin as their tire supplier, and the number of employees per team, cars per team, tire sets per race, etc., is limited. The goal: to ensure relative equality of opportunity for everyone to ensure exciting racing.
The Audi Sport Abt team is one of the first-generation teams. Its drivers are Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi. At the season's first race in Beijing, Grassi immediately landed on the top step of the podium, and the Allgäu-based team finished the season in third place.
Visually, the electric Audi is one of the most beautiful vehicles in the field, and the model is also wonderfully true to the original.
Best regards,
CoMod Lotus
***************************************************************************
Carrera DIGITAL 132 Formula E Andretti Autosport 'M.Andretti, No.28'
Item No.: 2003070
<< Carrera Online Shop >>
200 kW and top speeds of 225 km/h are the figures Formula E is set to boast starting in its third season. Manufacturer and customer teams will compete in exciting races on various street circuits around the world.
During the pit stop, no charging is required; the driver jumps into a charged vehicle and off they go. A city race is planned for May 21, 2016, in Berlin… almost like a giant Carrera track ;-)
The three vehicles from different manufacturers that have been released so far—I assume that Carrera has planned for the long term and that more will follow—already represent an illustrious field. The models are lightweight and, in their handling, largely resemble the well-known Formula cars.
The vehicles are faithfully reproduced, except for the mirrors—which sometimes don't survive the first lap in Formula 1 races. There's a noticeable bulge in the rear that doesn't match the original, but the axle pinion has to go somewhere. The same goes for the small bump on the lower left center spoiler... This is where the diode for digital operation is located.
The slightly narrower rear, the shorter wheelbase and the narrower tire width as well as the center of gravity directly below the driver are the most significant differences to the Formula 1 cars.
Well, almost. Not only are the tires narrower than those of the F1, they also have a tread and seem to have less grip. Certainly not significant for magnet operation, but someone driving without magnets could be at a slight disadvantage. The rear wheels of the Formula E cars are significantly better protected, which makes rear-end contact with other drivers less dramatic.
Best regards,
CoMod joergW
Item No.: 20030706
<< Carrera Online Shop >>
Technical data:
Weight (complete vehicle with magnets): 71 grams
Weight (body): 16 grams
Length including spoiler: 155 mm
Wheelbase: 97 mm
Track width (front axle): 54 mm
Track width (rear axle): 52 mm
Other: narrow center magnet, new digital decoder Art. No. 26744
Body/Appearance:
A racing series featuring all-electric Formula cars – it was only logical to bring these to the racetrack in a scaled-down version. For the third model, Nick Heidfeld's – now former – company car was chosen. This gained media attention because Nick, Heidfeld, and Nicolas Prost were involved in a spectacular crash at the opening race in Beijing in 2014. Heidfeld's car was thrown several meters into the air and into a safety fence, which he fortunately survived without any significant injuries.
Black bodies are always problematic because they're difficult to see on the equally black track. However, the red stripes and the flag pattern on the rear cover provide a focal point.
The other two Formula E models have silver rims; here they are black with a thin red rim. This gives the model a certain uniqueness compared to the other two.
Also worth mentioning are the recess for the gearbox in the rear and a side recess to the left below the driver, under which the LED of the digital decoder is located.
The front spoiler is attached as usual; otherwise, there are no mirrors or other small parts that could break off or get lost while driving. The rear spoiler extends almost the entire width of the vehicle at the bottom and is mounted relatively solidly.
Chassis/Technology:
With a total weight of just 71 grams, the model is extremely lightweight. It uses the narrow, longer engine familiar from many other Formula cars.
Due to the narrow body shape with the sidepods set far back, a new digital decoder (item no. 26744) is used here, which will also be available separately for retrofitting the analog Evolution models. The LED is mounted so that it lies outside the circuit board area.
Furthermore, the center magnet is significantly narrower than the normally sized rear magnet.
Driving behavior:
Due to its low weight and formula construction, the car is a true ground-breaking rocket, with the engine also contributing significantly. On smaller home tracks, the top speed is practically impossible to achieve. I therefore decided not to conduct a road test without magnets or with partial equipment, as handling would be a very special challenge in this case. With the top speed reduced by the BB/CU, the handling then moves into more controllable territory, but even here, it's a good idea to leave both magnets in the chassis.
Conclusion:
Formula cars aren't necessarily my favorites. Given the theme and the wide variety of designs offered by the Formula E racing series, it would have been negligent not to take advantage of this opportunity. The models offer a good compromise between visual finesse and robust construction. And if more designs follow in the future, they will also be more suitable for racing than the similarly constructed F1 cars, in the spirit of equal opportunity.
Best regards,
CoMod Chris
***************************************************************************
Carrera DIGITAL 132 Formula E Audi Sport 'Lucas di Grassi, No.11'
Item No.: 20030705
<< Carrera Online Shop >>
The FIA Formula E Championship has been running since September 13, 2014, and is contested exclusively on street circuits worldwide. Therefore, it was a big surprise for us in late autumn 2014 that the first Formula E cars would appear in the 2015 schedule. Carrera was actually just acting logically: Who else would launch electric cars than the largest provider of electric racetracks? ;-)
Electric cars have existed since the invention of the automobile. In the early years, it wasn't entirely clear which concept would prevail: gasoline was expensive, while electricity was more readily available. As we all know, the gasoline engine won, but even then, the main problem was the size and weight of the batteries. And while Mercedes introduced the neon-yellow SLS AMG GTS with four wheel hub motors two years ago, the idea isn't exactly new: The Lohner-Porsche at the 1900 World's Fair already had electric motors built into its spoked rims.
Now, the Lohner Porsche isn't quite comparable to today's Formula E racing cars. The electric Porsche from the turn of the century had a top speed of around 50 km/h and a range of 50 km with its 410 kg lead battery. The Formula E cars are a bit faster and can also go a bit further: top speed of 220 km/h and range of 200 km.
The teams in the 2014/15 Formula E season all compete with the same car, the Spark-Renault SRT 01E. The chassis and aerodynamics of the vehicles are specified, but work on the engine and batteries during the season is permitted. All teams use Michelin as their tire supplier, and the number of employees per team, cars per team, tire sets per race, etc., is limited. The goal: to ensure relative equality of opportunity for everyone to ensure exciting racing.
The Audi Sport Abt team is one of the first-generation teams. Its drivers are Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi. At the season's first race in Beijing, Grassi immediately landed on the top step of the podium, and the Allgäu-based team finished the season in third place.
Visually, the electric Audi is one of the most beautiful vehicles in the field, and the model is also wonderfully true to the original.
Best regards,
CoMod Lotus
***************************************************************************
Carrera DIGITAL 132 Formula E Andretti Autosport 'M.Andretti, No.28'
Item No.: 2003070
<< Carrera Online Shop >>
200 kW and top speeds of 225 km/h are the figures Formula E is set to boast starting in its third season. Manufacturer and customer teams will compete in exciting races on various street circuits around the world.
During the pit stop, no charging is required; the driver jumps into a charged vehicle and off they go. A city race is planned for May 21, 2016, in Berlin… almost like a giant Carrera track ;-)
The three vehicles from different manufacturers that have been released so far—I assume that Carrera has planned for the long term and that more will follow—already represent an illustrious field. The models are lightweight and, in their handling, largely resemble the well-known Formula cars.
The vehicles are faithfully reproduced, except for the mirrors—which sometimes don't survive the first lap in Formula 1 races. There's a noticeable bulge in the rear that doesn't match the original, but the axle pinion has to go somewhere. The same goes for the small bump on the lower left center spoiler... This is where the diode for digital operation is located.
The slightly narrower rear, the shorter wheelbase and the narrower tire width as well as the center of gravity directly below the driver are the most significant differences to the Formula 1 cars.
Well, almost. Not only are the tires narrower than those of the F1, they also have a tread and seem to have less grip. Certainly not significant for magnet operation, but someone driving without magnets could be at a slight disadvantage. The rear wheels of the Formula E cars are significantly better protected, which makes rear-end contact with other drivers less dramatic.
Best regards,
CoMod joergW
