Two new Continental tire types, specially developed for the off-road racing series Extreme E, have made their global debut. The unveiling of these cutting-edge products follows the announcement earlier this year of Continental’s partnership with the electric racing series. As a founding partner, Continental, the premium tire manufacturer, is set to provide tire technology for this unprecedented rally driving competition.
The new tires, with summer and winter tire technology and designed for the world’s toughest driving conditions, were presented to the public at the Goodwood Festival of Speed along with the unique electric sports utility vehicle. Together, driver, car and tires will tackle some of the most extreme locations across the globe, from the Himalayas and the Arctic to the Indian Ocean and deserts.
Karel Kucera, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa at Continental, commented: “At Continental, we pride ourselves as leaders in ground-breaking automotive technology and so our partnership with Extreme E comes naturally. With the cutting-edge tire designs that we developed for Extreme E e-SUVs, we guarantee perfect grip for acceleration, braking and precision handling on the toughest tracks.”
All Extreme E teams must use the same set of standardised equipment, created and assembled by motorsport manufacturer Spark Racing Technology, equipped with a battery manufactured by Williams Advanced Engineering, as well as Continental tires.
Prototype testing of the electric SUV has now begun in earnest, with substantial tire technology contributions from Founding Partner, Continental. Each Extreme E team will receive two sets of summer and winter tires, optimised for every conceivable facet of performance and safety required by their electric SUVs.
The race series is due to commence in 2021.
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Homepage Image: Special Continental Extreme E tires
Text Image – Extreme E electric SUV
About Continental
Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent, and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transportation. In 2018, Continental generated sales of €44.4 billion and currently employs around 245,000 people in 60 countries and markets.
The Tire division has 24 production and development locations worldwide. As one of the leading tire manufacturers with around 56,000 employees, the division posted sales of €11.4 billion in 2018. Continental ranks among the technology leaders in tire production and offers a broad product range for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and two-wheelers. Through continuous investment in R&D, Continental makes a major contribution to safe, cost-effective and ecologically efficient mobility. The Tire division’s portfolio includes services for the tire trade and for fleet applications, as well as digital management systems for commercial vehicle tires.
