Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds exclusively about the Gen4 car: "It's really going to surprise you!"

Formula E will be facing its fourth and final season with the Gen3 cars later this year, but behind the scenes the racing series and the five registered manufacturers are already working on the fourth generation of cars. In technical terms, the racing series and the International Automobile Federation FIA want to take a big step forward: The aim is to achieve lap times at Formula 2 level. But the visual appearance of the cars will also change significantly.

Two different aerodynamic packages will ensure that performance is significantly improved: For the first time, there will be a configuration that will increase the downforce of the cars to allow higher speed in the corners thanks to large wings. Until now, this has not been desirable in Formula E, as it always goes hand in hand with increased aerodynamic drag and, as a result, higher energy consumption.

The manufacturers registered for the Gen4 era - Jaguar, Lola, Nissan, Porsche and Stellantis - have already started developing their powertrains for the new racing cars. Even though the technical specifications are already known, the public has yet to see any pictures of the new cars. And this is set to remain the case for some time to come, explains Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds.

"We are waiting for it (the final car), but of course I've seen it, obviously," describes Dodds in an exclusive interview with e-Formula.news. The ex-racing driver and former team principal of Maserati MSG Racing, James Rossiter, was hired by chassis manufacturer Spark Racing Technologies as a test driver and is therefore responsible for the development. "The car is currently in testing. So it's been in Califat, in France and in Jarama. So it's been in regular testing cycles now."

"We will start to release images from Easter"

"The manufacturers will get their cars in, I believe, September for their tests," continued Dodds. "We will start to release images of the car from kind of Easter point of next year. Obviously, the first time the car is on track is the first race of season 13, which could be around December 2026 or maybe January 2027. So we're kind of 15, 16 months away from the car physically being on the track being raced."

"I can say this, because I've seen it: I think it's really going surprise you," he predicts. "You know it's a bigger car with different aerodynamics and a performance level that is uncomparable to where is the car today. We go from a maximum power of 350 kilowatts today to 600 kilowatts with permanent all-wheel drive. It's a completely different proposition. I've seen the test times, so I'm very excited to see what it can do on track."

Fans will therefore have to be patient for a few more months before they can take a look at the Gen4 car. It is also currently unknown whether features such as Attack Mode or Pit Boost pit stops will continue to exist in the Gen4 era of Formula E.