New Porsche 975 RSE gets 816hp - but do we care?

Once upon a time Formula E drivers changed cars mid-race; now they're set to do 208mph

By Matt Bird / Monday, 20 April 2026 / Loading comments

Nothing makes 2014 seem so long ago like the evolution of Formula E. Back then, the cars were awkward-looking and the race structure even more so, with mandatory car changes required due to the limitations of battery technology. Which was frankly pretty lame, whatever the badge on the nose. Things have slowly but surely improved, however, both in terms of the cars and the spectacle (even if drastically fewer people seem to be watching compared with F1). For the 2026 season, the fourth generation of Formula E racers will compete, and they make those original machines look like Sinclair C5s.

This is Porsche’s effort, the 975 RSE. Gone is the 99X Evo, which achieved four world championships, replaced by a new naming strategy and an entirely new car that will aim to replicate that success. It’s 9 like all the Porsche race cars, then ‘75’ to mark 75 years of Porsche Motorsport this year, ‘a success story that is set to be increasingly shaped by electric racing in the future.’

While the 51.25kWh battery (that can be charged at 600kW) is a spec unit in Formula E, the rest of the package - operating software, pulse inverter, electric motor, gearbox, differential, driveshafts, brake-by-wire - is developed in-house by the manufacturers. The sort of stuff that’s handy to then shout about in road cars following competition success. If indeed Cayenne Electric buyers care very much about Formula E, but that’s a separate discussion. The power is the big gain for these Gen 4 cars; at 816hp in Attack mode or 612hp normally, the 975 RSE is 71 per cent more powerful than a 99X, while only being 5kg heavier. A 0-62mph time of 1.8 seconds for the four-wheel-drive 975 isn’t even matched by a Taycan Turbo GT Weissach. A top speed of 335km/h, or 208mph, ought to make Formula E more engaging to watch on the fast circuits. Theoretically anyway.

Much like the launch of a new electric road car, the arrival of a new electric race car means a lot of talk about regen; for the RSE it’s reckoned that up to 700kW can be recuperated through slowing down, or around half of the drive energy per race. More efficient regen is another gain that would benefit road cars. As would weighing just 954kg (or even twice that). And if the 975 looks like a large Porsche, that’s because it is: 5,540mm long is actually a little bit more than the new F1 cars. Low- and high-downforce aero kits will be used.

Speaking of Formula 1, remember that the Formula E season kicks off at a different time to Grand Prix racing, with winter events and a calendar that runs across one year to the next. Season 13 will start in December, for example, with the hardware of the 975 able to be worked on until October and testing already underway. Florian Modlinger, Porsche’s Formula E Director, said: “The concept remains the same: the regulations force us to maximise the efficiency of our cars in every respect – because that makes us relevant for the road. The races should become even more attractive, as the new cars are considerably faster. The acceleration is impressive, and we expect top speeds of up to 335 km/h. I’m very curious to see how the fans will react.”

A little while to wait before we see these new Gen 4 cars in action, then, but potentially something to look forward to in the F1 off-season, particularly given the current difficulties around incorporating more electrification to that formula. Question is, will you (or anyone you know) be watching?