By ATN Editorial Team
Summary: The FIA and Formula E unveiled the Formula E GEN4 race car at Circuit Paul Ricard — 600 kW peak, permanent active all-wheel drive and a 2026/27 Season race debut.
Key engineering takeaway: In ATTACK MODE the Formula E GEN4 generates up to 600 kW, a 71% increase in base output over GEN3 Evo, with 50% more power than the GEN3 Evo in race mode. Dual motors give permanent active all-wheel drive — a first for any single-seater — and deliver 0–100 kph in ~1.8 s, 0–200 kph in 4.4 s (1.5 s faster than the outgoing car) and top speeds over 335 kph. The chassis runs two aerodynamic configurations (qualifying vs. race), 100% recyclable construction with ≥20% recycled carbon fibre and bio-based composites, tyres made from 65% natural and recycled materials, and a battery with no rare-earth minerals.
Why it matters: Formula E GEN4 is the first production Formula E car to combine 600 kW with permanent active AWD and a wider power-assisted-steering safety package, and the series frames it as a direct track-to-road R&D platform — 600 kW charging and high-efficiency motor work flow back into production EV programmes. The 2026/27 Season will be the first real-world test of how the registered Formula E GEN4 manufacturers (Porsche, Jaguar, Stellantis, Nissan, Lola Cars and Mahindra) translate that into racecraft.
Today, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Formula E unleashed the GEN4 car on track in its debut run in front of a select audience at Circuit Paul Ricard in the South of France, signalling the beginning of a new era for electric motor sport. This all-new next-generation machine is the car that will be further developed and then raced by the teams and manufacturers in the 2026/27 Season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Formula E GEN4 Power And Drivetrain Step-Change
Capable of reaching speeds in excess of 335kph, 0-100kph in approximately 1.8 seconds, and 0-200kph in just 4.4 seconds – 1.5 seconds faster than its predecessor – GEN4 will deliver 50% more power in race mode than the current GEN3 Evo race car. In ATTACK MODE, GEN4 produces up to 600kW of power, a 71% increase in base output over GEN3 Evo, delivering performance that pushes the limits of electric racing. Featuring two different aero configurations for pure performance in qualifying and energy management in the race, GEN4 is also the only single-seater race car with permanent all-wheel drive.
The on-track demonstration underlined GEN4’s pace in real conditions, with overtake laps on its GEN1, GEN2 and GEN3 predecessors highlighting the dramatic step forward in innovation and sheer performance. With racing starting from the 2026/27 Season later this year, GEN4 promises to deliver the fastest-ever lap time seen by a Formula E car: with the current mule car being at least five seconds per lap faster compared to the GEN3 Evo, and an average of 10 seconds faster than the GEN3 car in qualifying mode, we trust the manufacturers committed to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship to push the performance boundaries even further.
As the only all-electric FIA World Championship, GEN4 is both at the pinnacle of motor sport innovation and a testbed for future mobility. It is also central to the series’ track-to-road philosophy, with 600kW charging and high-efficiency motor development feeding into next-generation EV technology. With more freedom given to manufacturers to implement their in-house technologies on electronical control systems, GEN4 is expected to be even more road relevant.
Chassis, Sustainability And Safety
In addition to outright performance, sustainability remains a central pillar of innovation for GEN4, which will feature at least 20% recycled materials across key components. Its tyres are made from 65% natural and recycled materials, including 30% certified natural rubber, and the battery contains no rare earth minerals.
GEN4 will also introduce state-of-the-art safety standards. Its chassis and battery have gone through crash tests with much higher loads and deceleration levels. It also includes a wider cockpit for increased hand clearance and the introduction of a power-assisted steering system, especially for steering rotational speed mitigation during impacts. This will help to level the playing field and re-engineer the sport for inclusivity at the top level.
H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) said: “The new GEN4 Formula E car marks a significant step forward for electric racing, setting a new global benchmark for performance, innovation, and sustainability.
“It is not simply just a fast car, it is a statement of intent about the future of this technology. I am proud that the FIA and its partners in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship continue to push the boundaries of what electric racing can achieve, and inspire the broader mobility industry to think bigger, bolder and greener.”
Jeff Dodds, CEO, Formula E, said: “GEN4 isn’t just a car, it’s a bold declaration of our ambition. Seeing what it can do on track for the first time is a real milestone for Formula E – we are now delivering performance levels that were thought impossible for electric vehicles just five years ago. The step up in performance is immediately clear, from the speed and power to the way it delivers on track, and there was a genuine buzz among everyone who witnessed it. This is a hugely exciting moment for the Championship as we head into the upcoming 2026/27 Season, and a clear signal of where we are headed.
“This is just the beginning, as its refinement is now in the hands of our manufacturers – Porsche, Jaguar, Stellantis, Nissan, Lola Cars and Mahindra – to push development to even higher limits of performance ahead of its racing debut later this year. GEN4 isn’t just an evolution, it’s a step-change in innovation and performance that will redefine motorsport for years to come.”
The demonstration in Le Castellet saw all the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship teams and manufacturers in attendance, including Porsche, Jaguar, Nissan, Stellantis, Mahindra and Lola Cars. The takeaway: GEN4 is not just faster, it’s a leap across generations, showing how far electric racing has come in just twelve seasons since Formula E’s inception and a declaration of the direction the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is headed.
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