The all-electric racing series has thrown down the gauntlet, revealing the first look at its next-generation weapon: the Formula E Gen4 car. Slated to hit the track for the 2026-27 season, this machine isn’t just an evolution; it’s a dramatic leap forward, promising to be the fastest and most technologically advanced car in the championship’s history.
Designed from the ground up for intense, wheel-to-wheel combat, the Gen4 redefines performance benchmarks for electric single-seaters.
Unprecedented Power and AWD for the Street
At the heart of the Gen4’s prowess is a staggering power output. During standard racing conditions, the car will deploy 611 horsepower (450kW). But when a driver activates the strategic “Attack Mode,” that figure rockets to a breathtaking 815 horsepower (600kW). To put that in perspective, the current Gen3 Evo cars peak at 475hp, marking a massive 70% power increase for those critical overtaking moments.
Perhaps the most significant technical shift is the introduction of permanent all-wheel drive. Unlike the current generation, where AWD is a temporary boost for starts and Attack Mode, the Gen4 system powers all four wheels, all the time. This translates to superior traction out of corners, better stability in mixed conditions, and a driving dynamic that closely mirrors the latest high-performance electric road cars.
Complementing this is a larger 55kWh battery (up from 47kWh) and even more powerful energy recuperation under braking. This gives teams and drivers a larger “energy budget” to manage, adding a deeper layer of strategy to every race.
Smarter Aero and a Sharper Focus
For the first time, Formula E teams will have two distinct aerodynamic configurations at their disposal. One is a high-downforce setup designed to maximize grip for a single qualifying lap. The other is a low-dowforce package optimized for race day, reducing drag to help with overtaking and energy efficiency over a full race distance.
This development comes at a crucial time. While the series has seen high-profile manufacturers like Audi and Mercedes depart, it has secured strong commitments for the Gen4 era from brands like Porsche, Nissan, Stellantis, and Jaguar. In fact, Porsche’s recent decision to double down on Formula E while exiting the top tier of endurance racing signals a strong belief in the championship’s road-relevance.
The Gen4 car is explicitly designed to be a rolling laboratory for technologies that can trickle down to consumer vehicles. Vincent Gaillardot, Formula E Technical Manager, emphasized that the goal was to create a “world-class performance car” while “reducing restrictions on control system features for road relevancy purposes.”
Marek Nawarecki, the FIA’s Senior Circuit Sport Director, echoed this, noting that features like the permanent all-wheel drive and active differential “will allow OEMs to incorporate and showcase their own road-relevant technologies more than ever before.”
Adding to its modern credentials, the Gen4 car will be constructed with 100% recyclable materials and incorporate 20% recycled content, aligning the cutting-edge sport with a sustainable future.
With its debut set for the 2026-27 season, teams now have nearly two years to test and refine this new electric beast, setting the stage for the most competitive and technologically thrilling era of Formula E yet.
