Formula E unveiled its most powerful car yet at Paul Ricard on Tuesday Formula E has unveiled its most powerful car yet at its GEN4 launch at Paul Ricard, laying down the gauntlet to rival racing series such as NASCAR, which hopes to break in and dominate the electric motorsport market in the years to come. The all-electric racing series is the highest class open-wheel single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars and has already smashed several records while bringing its remarkable, evolutionary concepts to the race track.Formula E is in its 12th season, having launched in 2014, and has already gone through three generations of cars before the new GEN4 enters competition in the 2026/27 season. Daily Express U.S. sport was on hand at Paul Ricard this week to get a closer look at Formula E's GEN4 car as it showcased its mesmerizing speed around the historic, 15-turn circuit in Le Castellet, Var, France, which was used in Formula 1 between 1971 and 2022.The GEN4 car represents a major leap forward in performance, producing 450 kW in its regular race configuration. When ATTACK MODE is activated-or during qualifying-the output surges to an impressive 600 kW, roughly equivalent to 804 bhp. This marks a dramatic 71% boost in peak power over the previous GEN3 Evo car, and comes after NASCAR was slammed as 'out of touch' by fans over its electric ambitions.NASCAR faces massive backlash over electric vehicle plans - 'so out of touch'Dale Earnhardt Jr warns NASCAR proposal could prove to be 'massive mistake'The GEN4 car boasts explosive acceleration, launching from 0 to 62 mph in around 1.8 seconds, reaching 124 mph in just 4.4 seconds, and is capable of speeds in excess of 208 mph. It is also the first Formula E car and single-seater racer with permanent, active all-wheel drive, increasing on-track grip and torque.Jeff Dodds, CEO, Formula E, said: "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. The Formula E GEN4 car will be used in the open-wheel racing series' 13th season "The step up in performance is immediately clear, from the speed and power to the way it delivers on track, and there was a genuine buzz among everyone who witnessed it. This is a hugely exciting moment for the Championship as we head into the upcoming 2026/27 Season, and a clear signal of where we are headed."FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, added: "The new GEN4 Formula E car marks a significant step forward for electric racing, setting a new global benchmark for performance, innovation, and sustainability. It is not simply just a fast car, it is a statement of intent about the future of this technology. I am proud that the FIA and its partners in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship are leading this vision."Collaboration has been central to the development of this car, and it will continue to be at the heart of a new era for the championship defined by greater performance, road relevance, and excitement. We are redefining what is possible alongside some of the world's biggest automotive manufacturers using the laboratory of motorsport." NASCAR's EV prototype NASCAR's electric ambitionsLast year, NASCAR unveiled its prototype electric car at the Chicago street race. It signaled the U.S. stock car racing series' intent to move into sustainable motor racing. However, fans haven't been shy about expressing their concerns about NASCAR producing and racing EVs in the near future.NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. has also opposed the possibility of the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series going electric in the future. It comes after comments from NASCAR VP John Probst about potentially shifting the series toward a CUV-style body.Dale Jr. Download, the 15-time Most Popular Driver, warned that moving to electric vehicles could ultimately undermine the series' identity and tradition. However, NASCAR could look to carve out a distinct identity for a potential future electric stock car racing series, like Formula E has.