Instant Alert: This BMW-designed racing wheelchair for the Rio Olympics is like a carbon-fiber spaceship

MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS   |   UNSUBSCRIBE   |   VIEW ONLINE   This BMW-designed racing wheelchair for the Rio Olympics is like a carbon-fiber spaceship by William Fierman on Apr 27, 2016, 4:36 PM Advertisement Looking more like a carbon-fiber spaceship than a piece of racing equipment, a new wheelchair designed by BMW of North America for the United States Paralympic team should give athletes a serious edge in Rio this year. So what's a good racing wheelchair? "A fast one," project leader Brad Cracchiola of BMW DesignWorks told Business Insider. "It's the athletes that win the races. What we want to do is make a chair that transmits their power as best as possible." Among other elements, that requires chassis stiffness, advanced aerodynamics, and excellent chair fit, Cracchiola said. Each chair is custom made to achieve the best connection between the athlete and their equipment.  BMW has even improved the all-important gloves, traditionally made by hand by the athletes themselves. They are now being 3D printed. Paralympic gold medal winning athletes Josh George and Tatyana McFadden have already tested prototypes of the new racing wheelchair, and expect to receive their production versions in the coming weeks — just in time to get ready for the games. "It was lighter — that's what you notice right away — and very stiff," McFadden said. The new carbon-fiber racing wheelchair is essential if the United States is to stay competitive in the sport, McFadden said. Another carmaker, Honda, has been developing their own carbon-fiber wheelchair for the Japanese national team for about ten years. This is the first time an American company has decided to enter the sport. "We needed a technology advancement, but with this we are already way ahead," McFadden said. SEE ALSO: Mercedes wants to take on Ferrari with a new supercar The design process for the new chair began by digitally scanning an athlete in their old, aluminum chair and designing around their shape. A team of about 15 designers and engineers then worked to create a chair that was as stiff, aerodynamic, and light as possible. The result is an amazing and high-tech machine ... See the rest of the story at Business Insider   Share the latest business news with your network: Email sent to:   |   Manage your email preferences   |   Unsubscribe Terms of Service   |   Privacy Policy Business Insider. 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011