Formula E runs GEN4 demonstrator Monaco

Formula E used Monaco Grand Prix week to put its next car in front of a broader motorsport audience, releasing footage on May 20 of the GEN4 demonstrator running through the principality with David Coulthard driving. The clip appeared on Formula E’s official channels a few days after the former Formula One driver sampled the car in Monaco, according to the series. Formula E and the FIA have been building toward the model’s competitive debut in the 2026/27 season, when GEN4 is due to replace the current generation. The Monaco run was not a race outing, but a public demonstration timed to one of motorsport’s busiest weeks. ### Why did Formula E take the GEN4 car to Monaco now? Monaco provided Formula E with a ready-made showcase during a week when the principality is packed with teams, manufacturers, sponsors and racing media. Formula E’s May 20 video was framed as Coulthard taking the “brand new GEN4 car around the streets of Monaco,” linking the demonstration directly to the series’ own promotional push. (fiaformulae.com) The FIA and Formula E first unveiled GEN4 on Nov. 5, 2025, describing it as the next chapter for the championship and setting its debut for the 2026/27 season. The Monaco appearance gave the series fresh footage and a recognizable driver name as it continues to introduce the car before teams begin racing it. ### What exactly did David Coulthard do in the demo? (fiaformulae.com) David Coulthard drove the GEN4 car in Monaco and then spoke publicly about the experience in Formula E material published on May 17. Formula E described him as having sampled the new car around the famous Monaco circuit before the fuller video package was released three days later. Coulthard said the car “will redefine what a racing car can be,” according to Formula E’s account of the run. (fiaformulae.com) That quote is the clearest statement attached to the event, and the series used it to underline the step up it says GEN4 will bring over the current car. ### What changes is Formula E highlighting with GEN4? Formula E says GEN4 will be its fastest and most powerful car yet. (fiaformulae.com) On its GEN4 information page, the series says the car is designed around 600kW, or 815 bhp, and permanent all-wheel drive, with two aerodynamic configurations for qualifying and race running. The FIA said in April that the car is set to exceed 335 kph and reach 0-200 kph in 4.4 seconds. (fiaformulae.com) Formula E’s fact sheet says maximum race power will be 450kW, rising to 600kW in Attack Mode, with 700kW regenerative braking and a 55kWh battery. ### How big a step is this from the current Formula E car? (fiaformulae.com) The FIA said in its November unveiling that GEN4 packs 50% more power than the GEN3 Evo and marks “another massive leap forward in EV performance.” Formula E’s own GEN4 page says the 600kW peak figure represents a 71% increase over the previous generation’s power figure used for comparison on that page. (fia.com) Those claims are part of a wider pitch from Formula E and the FIA that the new car will combine higher performance with efficiency and sustainability. The FIA said the car is intended to be almost 100% motor efficient and 100% recyclable, while Formula E says nearly half of race energy can be recovered through regeneration. (fia.com) ### When will fans see GEN4 in competition rather than demos? The 2026/27 Formula E season is the target for GEN4’s racing debut, according to both Formula E and the FIA. Until then, Monaco-style demonstrations, specifications releases and team launch materials are likely to be the main public touchpoints as the series moves from concept reveal to race preparation. (fia.com) Formula E’s official site is already carrying GEN4 pages, specifications and video from Monaco alongside its current Season 12 calendar. The next competitive use of the car is not scheduled for 2026 races now underway; it is tied instead to the championship’s 2026/27 campaign. (fiaformulae.com 1) (fiaformulae.com 2)