Formula E's Gen4 car closes gap on F1 on paper

Formula E's new Gen4 car, which begins pre-season testing in Madrid, has been compared with Formula 1 and Formula 2 machinery. The car produces 450 kW in race trim and 600 kW in qualifying and Attack Mode, a 71 percent rise in peak deployable output over the Gen3 Evo, alongside a battery capacity of 55 kWh.

On paper, the Gen4 accelerates faster than an F2 car to 200 km/h and matches its 335 km/h top speed, though F2 needs Monza-spec aero and DRS to reach it. Porsche reportedly set a lap record for F2 at Monza during a private test with its development Gen4 car. The car also runs permanent all-wheel drive, which F1's rear-wheel-drive regulations prohibit.

The Gen4 weighs around 954 kg without a driver and races last around 45 minutes to an hour, far shorter than F1 grands prix. Gen4 debuts in 2027, with the season opening in Mexico City on January 16. The exact lap-time gap to 2026 F1 cars on a shared circuit has not yet been measured in competitive conditions.