Opel presents its Formula E car: All the news on the official Gen4 launch of Formula E

Formula E will officially unveil the fourth-generation cars on 21 and 22 April at the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet. At the "Gen4 Unleashed", selected media representatives will be able to take a look at the new Gen4 cars for the first time. e-Formula.news will also be present at the event in the south of France. In this news ticker, you can find out all the latest news about the fourth generation of the electric racing series.

>>> Opel shows Gen4 test car Opel GSE 27FE

[22.04. 11:00] Opel unveiled its Gen4 car on Wednesday morning. This is Stellantis’ test car, which the group has already used to take part in the joint Gen4 test drives organised by the Formula E manufacturers in Monteblanco and Almería. As with all other Gen4 cars, however, the livery is intended solely for testing purposes. Consequently, the car with which Opel will compete in Formula E from the end of the year will, of course, look significantly different.

"We are showing how exciting and at the same time relevant electric performance is for and at Opel,"says Rebecca Reinemann, Vice President Marketing. "What we are unveiling today is much more than a prototype," adds Jörg Schrott, team principal of the Opel GSE Formula E Team. "The Opel GSE 27FE is a strategic technology accelerator for our development in series production and GSE performance models in particular."

>>> Gen4 is also set to set new standards in sustainability

[04/21 6:15 pm] Formula E aims to set new standards with the Gen4, not only in terms of performance but also when it comes to sustainability. According to the series, it will be the world's first racing car to be 100 per cent recyclable. Furthermore, at least 20 per cent of the materials used in key components are to be made from recycled materials. The new tyres from Bridgestone are manufactured from 65 per cent natural and recycled materials, including 30 per cent certified natural rubber.

There have also been advances in battery technology: according to Formula E, the new battery from the Italian company Podium Advanced Technologies does not contain any rare earth elements. The Gen4 is thus intended to underline the racing series' commitment to combining high performance and sustainability more strongly than ever before.

>>> That's how the bosses of FIA & Formula E rate the Gen4

[04/21 5:30 pm] Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds describes it as a milestone for the racing series: "Gen4 isn’t just a car, it's a bold declaration of our ambition. Seeing what it can do on track for the first time is a real milestone for Formula E - we are now delivering performance levels that were thought impossible for electric vehicles just five years ago."

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem adds: "The new Gen4 Formula E car marks a significant step forward for electric racing, setting a new global benchmark for performance, innovation, and sustainability." He continues: "It is not simply just a fast car, it is a statement of intent about the future of this technology."

>>> 600 kW, 335 km/h, AWD: That’s what Gen4 can do

[04/21 4:45 pm] Technically, the Gen4 car sets new standards: it reaches an impressive top speed of more than 335 km/h. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in around 1.8 seconds and from 0 to 200 km/h in 4.4 seconds. According to Formula E, thanks to 600 kW of power – an increase of more than 70 per cent – the car is expected to be around ten seconds per lap faster on average than the Gen3 car in qualifying mode; on street circuits, a time gain of at least five seconds per lap is expected compared to the Gen3 Evo. In the race too, the car is expected to be significantly faster thanks to permanent all-wheel drive and 50 per cent more power (450 kW instead of 300 kW). Other new features include power steering, a wider cockpit and more adjustment options for the seating position.

>>> Officially unveiled: Formel E shows new Gen4 car

[04/21 4:00 pm] Formula E and the FIA officially unveiled the new Gen4 car on the track for the first time on Tuesday in Le Castellet. According to the series, the car marks the beginning of a new era in electric motorsport. During the demonstration at the Circuit Paul Ricard, the progress made compared to previous generations of cars was also evident: during comparison laps, the Gen4 overtook cars from all three previous generations. In addition to its pure performance, the car is also intended to serve as a technology platform for future electric mobility.

>>> Porsche presents Gen4 car 975 RSE

[04/20 3:00 pm] Porsche is the latest manufacturer to unveil its Gen4 race car. Unlike the Gen2 and Gen3 cars, which were all called the Porsche 99X Electric, fans will have to get used to a new name from next season onwards: the Porsche 975 RSE. The name refers to the 75th anniversary of Porsche Motorsport this year. By early April, the car had already clocked up 1,860 test kilometres, as Porsche announced.

"The concept remains the same: the regulations force us to maximise the efficiency of our cars in every respect," says Florian Modlinger, Florian Modlinger, Director Factory Motorsport Formula E at Porsche. "The races should become even more attractive, as the new cars are considerably faster. The acceleration is impressive, and we expect top speeds of up to 335 km/h. I’m very curious to see how the fans will react."

"The new Porsche 975 RSE is a really cool race car," says Pascal Wehrlein, 2023/24 Formula E World Champion. “The Gen4s extremely fast and great fun for us drivers. I believe it will be a real eye-opener for many fans and critics. I also like the look of the 975 RSE. The aerodynamics make the car look uncompromising, and our livery for the test runs looks pretty good."

>>> Jaguar shows testing livery

[04/18 3:30 pm] Jaguar is the first manufacturer to unveil its Gen4 test car. The livery of the Jaguar GEN4 proto_TYPE – the official name of the development car for the coming season – features simulated speeds of the four generations of Formula E cars at various points, illustrating the technical progress made over the twelve years of the racing series’ existence. Below, the top speeds of the four generations of Jaguar cars before the harbour chicane can be seen: whilst the Gen1 car reached 199 km/h here, the Gen4 car achieved 277 km/h in the simulator at that point – more than 30 km/h faster than the current Gen3 Evo car (245 km/h).

"Our unique testing livery not only reflects Jaguar TCS Racing’s time competing in Formula E, but the huge technological and performance evolution through ten years of racing," says Jaguar TCS Racing team principal Ian James. "Gen4 represents another step-change for the championship. The raw speed of these all-electric cars is incredible, and we cannot wait to showcase the Jaguar GEN4 proto_TYPE on track.”

>>> This is what happens in Le Castellet

[04/18 10:45 am] The event begins on Tuesday with a presentation of the vehicle and discussions with experts from Formula E, the FIA and chassis manufacturer Spark. Spark's development car, which was mainly tested by James Rossiter, will then take to the track. There will also be live comparisons of all four vehicle generations. Several panel discussions with key speakers on various topics, from the technological path to sustainability, are also planned.

On Wednesday, the manufacturers will take centre stage: Jaguar, Stellantis (with the new Opel works team) and Porsche will give an insight into their Gen4 development. Lola Yamaha and Nissan will not be able to be on site with their Gen4 cars due to their respective development schedules.