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Formula E's New Electric Racing Car Is Faster Than a Formula 1 Car. What We Know So Far

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Formula E has unveiled its most ambitious development yet: the Gen4 race car. It's quick, with a jaw-dropping 0-60mph time of just 1.8 seconds. That's quicker off the line than a Formula 1 car. Set to debut in the 2026-27 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the Gen4 is the next evolution of electric vehicle motorsport.

Formula E, which had its first season in 2014, was initially treated as a curiosity by motorsport fans. The early cars were efficient, but not that fast. And the noise -- or lack of it -- left many fans unimpressed. But over the past decade, the series has matured from a low-whir novelty into a high-stakes, manufacturer-backed competition.

It's now a proving ground for electric car technology, and with Gen4, Formula E might have just stepped out of F1's shadow.

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A big development for electric motorsports

The Gen4 car is significantly bigger than the current Gen3 Evo car, with two distinct aero configurations and more aggressive bodywork styling. Formula E/FIA

The Gen4 is the fastest and most advanced car the Formula E championship has ever fielded. With 600kW of power on tap -- equivalent to over 815 horsepower -- the car features active all-wheel drive throughout the race. It also introduces advanced aerodynamics with two setups: a high-downforce mode for qualifying, and a low-drag configuration for race conditions, dubbed Attack Mode.

In Attack Mode, the Gen4 car delivers full power for dramatic overtakes, and its regenerative braking system now peaks at 700kW. The electric car will recover energy so efficiently that 40% of the car's race power can come from braking alone. The energy capacity has also been increased to 55kWh, opening the door to more aggressive race strategies.

The Gen4 car is built from 100% recyclable materials

While the Formula E Gen4 racing car might look similar to a Formula 1 car, there's plenty different for fans to enjoy. Formula E/FIA

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