Formula E has officially unveiled the Gen3 Evo (Gen3.5) in a glitzy event – attended by RacingNews365 – at the Circuit de Monaco, ahead of this weekend's Monaco E-Prix.
The car will be introduced from the start of Season 11 (2024/25) and will see the sport through until it moves into the Gen 4 era in 2026/27. An incredible amount of work has gone into the new car, which is a clear upgrade from the current Gen3 machinery.
As the introduction of Gen3 was very last-minute, it should come as no surprise that the performance of the Gen3 Evo is in a different league.
With a 0-60 mph of 1.82 secs and a top speed of 200 mph, it will be the fastest accelerating single-seater in the world, 30% faster than F1 is today. The Gen3 Evo will also be fitted with a brand-new softer Hankook iON tyre, giving the drivers around 10% better grip.
Visibly, the Gen3 Evo will also look somewhat different to the current Gen3 car, courtesy of a new body kit and adaptations to the front-wing.
For the first time in Formula E history, the Gen3 Evo will also be all-wheel drive, which will be usable during qualifying duels, race starts and when in Attack Mode. This will maximise traction and acceleration.
In total, the Gen3 Evo will still produce 350 kW of power (roughly 470 bhp), but will have a regenerative braking capacity of 600 kW which can be fully recharged in 30 secs once Attack Charge is implemented.
Staggeringly, 50% of the energy which will be used during the races, will be produced through regenerative braking during the races themselves.
The Gen3 Evo is a giant step for Formula E and further reduces the gap in terms of lap time to F1.
"The GEN3 Evo heralds a ground-breaking chapter in the evolution of Formula E, embodying our dedication to innovation and high performance achieved sustainably," said Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds.
"Featuring unprecedented acceleration and an advanced aerodynamic design, the car that I had the honour of unveiling in Monaco is set to intensify the thrill of our racing, captivating our drivers and fans around the world with truly superior capabilities and performance."
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Hardware homologation ends
Of course, another critical part of the Gen3 Evo is that the powertrain suppliers will be able to introduce completely new powertrains, as the hardware homologation concludes at the end of the current season.
Everything combined means lap times next season are set to be significantly quicker, with simulations already suggesting that next year's Monaco E-Prix will see lap times two seconds faster.
Formula E is doing all of this whilst continuing to support the environment and fight climate change, with the new tyres in particular being made from 35% recycled and sustainable materials.
The FIA were also at the launch of the Gen3 Evo, with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem hailing the new car as a "significant leap forward".
“The FIA and Formula E have been working hard on the development process of this new GEN3 Evo race car, which represents another significant leap forward in electric racing technology," said Ben Sulayem.
"I would like to thank both FIA and Formula E teams for the hard work which underlines our shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of sustainable motorsport, while delivering competitive racing.”
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