Formula E just dropped a bombshell in the racing world with the reveal of its all-new Gen4 car, and fans can’t stop talking about it. The electric racing series has quietly built its own strong identity over the past decade and may have just launched a machine that could rival the appeal of F1 and steal a bit of its spotlight.
What’s All the Formula E’s Buzz About?
Formula E has come a long way since its early days, when drivers had to jump out and switch cars mid-race because the batteries couldn’t last long, but it’s now a serious racing series in its own right, and the Gen4 car looks like another big step forward.
The series is an FIA-sanctioned championship where all the cars are powered entirely by electric batteries, which started back in 2014 and has become known for its tight, wheel-to-wheel street racing and its push for greener, more sustainable technology.
The new machine is set to debut in 2026 and isn’t just an upgrade but a complete evolution of what electric racing can be, as FE says the Gen4 will deliver up to 600kW of power, which translates to over 815 horsepower. That’s a huge number, especially for a car that’s built to run entirely on electric power, which is higher than the likes of NASCAR and slots in just below Formula 2
It is also the first FE car with permanent four-wheel drive, which should make it incredibly grippy in corners, and the overall design is tougher, sleeker, as well as more aggressive, giving it a much stronger track presence than the current Gen3 Evo. Formula E has also gone big on sustainability as the Gen4 is entirely made from recyclable materials, including its tires and body panels.
F1 Fans Can’t Get Enough of It
Once photos of the car hit social media, the reactions came in fast, and some fans even went as far as to say the Gen4 car “makes F1 cars look like toys.”
The design definitely feels more futuristic, and that has given Formula E a bit of a cool factor online.
One fan wrote, “Formula E deada** out aura’d formula 1 bro 2026 cars have GOT to save us.”
Another user wrote, “I know it’s too early to say this since we haven’t see what 2026 F1 cars look like, is it ok if i say FE cars will be better looking next year!”
Another fan joked, “F1 2026 is basically temu Formula E with the new power distribution.”
Even Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds was clearly proud of what the team has achieved and called the Gen4 the “most advanced and complex car ever created” by the series, and also admitted that it would be the most complex car an FE driver has ever driven.
“In just 12 years, to come from where we were in the Generation 1 car… It feels almost inconceivable that we’re about to launch this incredible vehicle into the ecosystem,” Dodds said. “This is our most advanced, most complex car ever created, and from a driving point of view, will be the most complex car that any Formula E driver has ever sat in. It’s very exciting.”
Beyond its bold looks, the Gen4 is packed with serious technology and has already completed almost 8,000 kilometers of testing with former Formula E driver James Rossiter doing much of the early work. Engineers have tested two aerodynamic configurations, with one being low downforce for qualifying sessions and another with high downforce for tighter racing setups.
FIA’s Formula E technical manager Vincent Gaillardot said, “GEN4 is the most advanced Formula E single-seater to date, with cutting-edge technology making it the fastest and most powerful electric racing car fans will ever have seen.”
Manufacturers like Porsche, Nissan, Jaguar, Stellantis and Lola will take part in the first round of official tests in Spain which should reveal even more about the car’s performance and whether it truly rivals Formula 1 is not certain yet but what’s clear is that Formula E is growing more confident in its identity as the Gen4 isn’t trying to copy Formula 1 but instead carving out its own future.
