Five days to begin understanding a generation
Formula E has scheduled its 2026/27 pre-season tests at Circuito de Madrid Jarama–RACE for 16–20 November. The announcement was made on 2 June, and the approaching test now offers an opportunity to organise the questions surrounding GEN4. This is a preparation programme: teams will work with the new generation before the season begins. The interest extends beyond the speed of a single car to how quickly its different systems can be understood.
Power and energy need to be read together
The official GEN4 fact sheet lists 450 kW of race power and 600 kW in Attack Mode, together with 700 kW of regenerative braking and 55 kWh of race energy. These numbers describe different functions. Acceleration power, usable energy and recovery under braking cannot be added into a single performance measure. For interpreting the test, the useful question is how each team turns those possibilities into a repeatable sequence of laps and a coherent programme.
| Parameter | Announced figure |
|---|---|
| Race power | 450 kW |
| Attack Mode power | 600 kW |
| Maximum regeneration | 700 kW |
| Race energy | 55 kWh |
All-wheel drive changes the driving questions
Formula E presents GEN4 with permanent all-wheel drive and two aerodynamic configurations addressing different downforce and drag requirements. That technical promise needs to be examined through the car’s behaviour: corner exits, stability and responses to configuration changes are useful observations. The published specifications include a speed above 335 km/h. That is an announced capability of the model, rather than a measurement already produced at the November test. The distinction keeps expectations separate from the evidence that is still to come.
How to compare testing lap times
In APEX’s reading, the first step is to establish the conditions behind a comparison. A fast lap becomes more useful when the configuration and the aim of the programme are known. Without that information, the order gives only part of the picture. Repeated laps from the same car deserve attention, and a change in pace should be related to its point in the session. A jump up the table may reflect improvement or a different phase of the team’s work.
Why mileage matters as well
Continuity provides another reference. A sequence of laps creates more situations to observe than a single attempt: braking, acceleration, traffic and returning to the same corner. For a new generation, the progression of a session can explain development better than the final order in isolation. Team explanations and published data will be needed to distinguish conclusions about performance from visual impressions. The value of testing lies partly in connecting these observations, rather than treating every lap as a direct competitive statement.
From Jarama to the first points
The official calendar places the season’s opening two races in Jeddah on 18 and 19 December 2026. Mexico City follows on 16 January, with Austin on 6 February 2027. Jarama therefore comes before the first points-paying results. This guide sets reference points for following preparation; GEN4’s competitive order will begin to emerge when the teams have to answer the same race conditions. Until then, the most useful test coverage will explain what each piece of evidence can support.
