The fourth-generation Formula E car introduces significant advances in electric performance, all-wheel-drive capability and sustainability. For Nissan, the arrival of GEN4 represents more than a new racing platform, it provides new opportunities to accelerate the development of electrified technologies that can benefit future Nissan consumer models through the company’s long-standing “track to road” and “road to track” engineering philosophy.

Development of Nissan’s GEN4 challenger model is already underway at the team’s engineering headquarters in Viry-Châtillon, France. Reigning Formula E World Champion Oliver Rowland remains closely involved as development continues.

What is Formula E GEN4?

GEN4 is the fourth generation of Formula E’s all-electric single-seater race car and represents the championship’s biggest technical step forward since the series began.

Compared with the current GEN3 Evo car, GEN4 delivers substantially higher performance while introducing permanent all-wheel drive, increased aerodynamic capability and greater technical freedom for manufacturers.

How much faster is the Formula E GEN4 car?

The GEN4 car delivers a significant increase in performance across every key area. Key performance figures include:

Peak power: 600kW (816hp), up from 350kW on GEN3 Evo 0–100km/h: 1.8 seconds 0–200km/h: 4.4 seconds Top speed: 335km/h Permanent all-wheel drive The fastest-accelerating FIA-governed race car

The increased power, combined with higher aerodynamic performance and permanent all-wheel drive, is expected to make GEN4 the fastest and most technically advanced Formula E car to date.

Oliver Rowland, Nissan Formula E Team driver, said:

GEN4 is a huge step in the right direction for Formula E. It will look impressive from the outside and all the drivers are really excited about it. I think it will give Formula E even more credibility and drivers from other categories will have even more respect for it. When we compare lap times, I’m sure we’ll see a big jump forward.

How does Formula E help develop Nissan’s road cars?

Nissan’s Formula E programme forms part of the company’s wider electrification strategy by allowing engineers to exchange knowledge between motorsport and production vehicle development.

This “track to road” and “road to track” philosophy enables technologies developed in Formula E to inform future Nissan consumer cars, while lessons learned from production vehicle development also contribute to race car performance.

One of the most significant opportunities introduced by GEN4 is the arrival of permanent all-wheel drive.

What is Nissan e‑4ORCE?

Nissan e‑4ORCE is the company’s advanced all-wheel control technology, designed to optimise traction, stability and ride comfort by precisely controlling power delivery and braking at each wheel.

Currently available on the Nissan Ariya and X‑Trail e‑POWER, e‑4ORCE combines electric motor control with intelligent torque distribution to improve driver confidence across a wide range of road conditions.

The introduction of permanent all-wheel drive in Formula E allows Nissan engineers to further develop expertise that can benefit both future race cars and future road vehicles.

Tommaso Volpe, Managing Director and Team Principal, Nissan Formula E Team, said:

“The possibility to transfer between the worlds of road and track has become much wider because electrification is a more flexible technology. The same motor can be utilised in many different ways and solutions that are applied in developing a powertrain for Formula E can be also applied to road cars, and vice versa.

“One of the key reasons Nissan decided to commit to Formula E until 2030 is because we can create this link between our R&D and the car that we are racing. The GEN3 Evo with which we won the driver’s championship last year was heavily influenced by advanced R&D in Japan in the development of its hardware, specifically the gearbox and the motor. This influence massively improved the energy efficiency of its powertrain.

Our e‑4ORCE technology proves Nissan is one of the leaders in all-wheel drive technology. There is a huge opportunity with GEN4 to transfer the strong expertise of Nissan in all-wheel drive to Formula E cars and then back into our road cars. In motorsport you are simply using the same technical solutions in a context which is much more extreme.

Inspired by Nissan’s performance heritage

Permanent all-wheel drive has long been a defining characteristic of Nissan performance vehicles.

From the legendary R32 Skyline GT‑R – nicknamed “Godzilla” after its extraordinary motorsport success – to today’s Ariya and X‑Trail e‑POWER equipped with e‑4ORCE, Nissan has continued to develop technologies that improve both performance and driver confidence. The arrival of permanent all-wheel drive in Formula E represents the next chapter in that engineering story.

How is the Formula E GEN4 car more sustainable?

Alongside increased performance, the GEN4 regulations introduce Formula E’s most sustainable race car yet.

Key sustainability measures include:

More than 40% of race energy generated through regenerative braking Target of 100% reusable construction Minimum 20% recycled materials used throughout the vehicle Battery contains no rare earth minerals Tyres made from 65% natural and recycled materials

Formula E also remains the first global sport certified to the BSI Net Zero Pathway Standard and the first motorsport championship to achieve B Corp Certification.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Formula E GEN4?

GEN4 is the fourth generation of Formula E’s all-electric race car. It introduces higher performance, permanent all-wheel drive and improved sustainability ahead of Season 13.

How fast is the Formula E GEN4 car?

The GEN4 car produces 600kW (816hp), accelerates from 0–100km/h in 1.8 seconds and has a top speed of 335km/h.

What is Nissan e‑4ORCE?

e‑4ORCE is Nissan’s advanced all-wheel control technology that improves traction, stability and ride comfort by precisely managing power delivery and braking across all four wheels.

How does Formula E benefit Nissan’s road cars?

Nissan uses Formula E as a development platform to test technologies that can improve the efficiency, performance and control of future electrified production vehicles.

When does the GEN4 era begin?

The Formula E GEN4 car will debut at the start of Season 13 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.