The Formula E GEN4 hit the track this Tuesday at Circuit Paul Ricard with all six championship manufacturers present. Porsche, Jaguar, Stellantis, Nissan, Mahindra and Lola Cars attended the first real session of a car that since its launch five months ago existed only in specification documents. The presence of Mahindra confirms the sixth manufacturer for the GEN4 era, a name that had not appeared in the championship's previous announcements.

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The GEN4 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 1.8 seconds and reaches 200 km/h in 4.4 seconds, 1.5 seconds less than the GEN3 on that stretch, with a top speed exceeding 335 km/h. In qualifying mode, it runs 10 seconds per lap faster than its predecessor, and on street circuits that difference does not drop below five seconds. In ATTACK mode, power reaches 600kW, 71% more than the base output of the GEN3 Evo. The session included overtaking laps against the GEN1, GEN2, and GEN3, with all three predecessor cars on track at the same time to compare with stopwatch data what has changed in 12 seasons of the championship.

Permanent all-wheel drive unprecedented in racing single-seaters

With Paul Ricard in the books, the development of the GEN4 now passes to the manufacturers. Each will work on their propulsion and energy management systems within the regulations ahead of the debut in season 2026/27.

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The GEN4 operates with both axles active continuously throughout the race, something unprecedented in competition single-seaters. For engineers who worked on the GEN3 with rear-only propulsion, torque distribution between the two axles will require a completely new calibration process. The car features power steering and a wider cockpit to manage the physical loads that 600kW produce.

Bridgestone arrives with wet compound and eliminates the all-weather tire

Bridgestone replaces Hankook as the official GEN4 supplier with specific wet compounds, eliminating the all-weather tire with which Formula E raced since its inception. That single-compound format designed to work in dry and wet conditions without change no longer exists. In a championship that contests its rounds on city streets, teams will for the first time manage compound decisions based on track conditions, something the previous scheme made impossible.

The GEN4 battery does not use rare earth minerals

The car is designed to be fully recyclable, with at least 20% recycled materials in its construction. The tires contain 65% natural and recycled materials, and the battery uses no rare earth minerals.

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The 2025/26 season continues with the GEN3. Formula E returns to Berlin on May 2nd and 3rd, rounds 7 and 8 at Tempelhof Airport.