World Premiere: Opel Presents GEN4 Formula E Prototype

• Opel GSE 27FE celebrates world premiere at the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet
• Test and development driver Sophia Flörsch behind the wheel of the electric racing car with more than 800 hp
• Extensive track testing programme to begin in May
• GSE line-up on the track: Opel Mokka GSE, Opel Corsa GSE prototype, Opel Manta GSe, Opel Mokka GSE Rally and GEN4 race car
• Final design of the Formula E race car to celebrate premiere at the 2026 Paris Motor Show

Opel is setting the next milestone on the way to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with the new Opel GSE 27FE celebrating its world premiere at the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet in southern France. With the prototype of the GEN4 race car and its striking design, the brand with the Blitz bolt is showing the next chapter of its Formula E commitment – for the first time live on the racetrack.

"We have a clear strategy with Opel GSE: Race. Drive. Play. And 2026 is clearly dominated by racing," announced Rebecca Reinermann, Vice President Marketing. “We are showing how exciting and at the same time relevant electric performance is for and at Opel."

Over 800 hp: Opel GSE 27FE for the new era of Formula E

“What we are unveiling today is much more than a prototype," said Jörg Schrott, Team Principal of the Opel GSE Formula E Team. “The Opel GSE 27FE is a strategic technology accelerator for our development in series production and GSE performance models in particular.”

The Opel GSE 27FE is the race car for the GEN4 generation of the Formula E World Championship, which starts with the coming season. The prototype has permanent all-wheel drive, an output of over 800 hp, achieves a recuperation output of up to 700 kW, thus taking electric motorsport to a completely new level. Other strategic elements such as different aerodynamic configurations promise even more excitement during the races.

The preparation is correspondingly extensive. "After many intensive hours on the test bench, we are now integrating the entire powertrain into the car and will be on the racetrack from the beginning of May," explained Jörg Schrott. In the coming months, test bench runs and test operations on the track will alternate in a targeted manner. "We are currently planning to complete around 15 days of testing on various European racetracks before the start of the season."

Design with high-speed DNA

The design of the GSE 27FE follows a clear idea: If a car is so fast – what does it have to look like so that this speed is conveyed even when stationary? The answer is provided by the striking ‘Lightspeed’ graphics of the body. The decal with strong yellow accents ties in with Opel's motorsport history and racing DNA with its eye-catching yellow design.

“With the design of the Opel GSE 27FE, we want to make speed and performance unmistakably visible even before our GEN4 race car hits the track,” said Pierre-Olivier Garcia, Head of Opel Global Brand Design. "'OMG! in a blink' perfectly describes this intent: immediate effect, maximum presence and the focused energy of modern electric racing. Every line, every surface, every detail is driven by a clear vision – precision engineering expressed through design made in Germany."

The Opel Compass features prominently at the front and clearly identifies the vehicle as an Opel. At the same time, the GSE 27FE continues to develop the GSE design language introduced in 2025 with the Mokka GSE Rally – from a rugged rally look to a new visual world designed for high-tech and high-speed Formula E.

The final design, with which the Opel GSE 27FE will make its world championship debut, will be shown in October as part of Opel’s presence at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, which will also focus on the GSE line-up.

Sophia Flörsch on the track for the first time in the GEN4 prototype

The first driver to pilot the GEN4 prototype on the racetrack was test and development driver Sophia Flörsch. The 25-year-old German completed the first kilometres in Le Castellet. The Munich-based driver will be closely involved in development from the very beginning – from simulator sessions to the upcoming test drives with the GSE 27FE and other generations of Formula E.

“After initial tests in the simulator, to drive here for the first time in Opel's Formula E GEN4 race car is an indescribable moment. The brutal torque, this completely new performance – it feels like the future of motorsport, and I'm ready to push the limits,” said Sophia Flörsch.

GSE all along the line

In Le Castellet, Opel shows how closely Formula E and the GSE models interact: In addition to the Opel GSE 27FE, the Opel Mokka GSE, the prototype of the new Opel Corsa GSE, the Opel Manta GSe and the Opel Mokka GSE Rally complete some laps together. At the Circuit Paul Ricard, Opel is showcasing the entire range of its electric performance: from a rally competition car to a concept icon to sporty production models and the future Formula E racing car.

“We are impressively demonstrating how all elements of our GSE story come together today," said Rebecca Reinermann. “We are consistently expanding GSE as an emotionally charged performance brand. Formula E plays a key role in this because it combines technology, high-tech innovation, sustainability, fan culture and enthusiasm in a unique way.”

Formula E as the emotional face of GSE

Opel officially announced its entry into Formula E as a German works team in mid-March and is using the World Championship as a global stage for its all-electric high-performance models with the start of the GEN4 era. The abbreviation GSE stands for ‘Grand Sport Electric’ and thus for particularly dynamic electric vehicles. After the Opel Mokka GSE last year, the new Opel Corsa GSE will be launched in 2026. "Formula E is the fastest growing racing series in the world – and that's exactly where Opel belongs," insisted Rebecca Reinermann. “We don't want to reserve this uncompromising performance just for motorsport professionals. Opel customers should also be able to enjoy this sporty, direct 'OMG! driving experience'. That's why we are further expanding our GSE series model range with the Opel Corsa GSE."

Driver Signed: Sophia Flörsch Joins Opel GSE Formula E Team

• Next Level GSE: Talented 25-year-old becomes test and development driver of the new German factory team
• Team Principal Jörg Schrott: "We combine talent development with high sporting standards"
• Sophia Flörsch: "We want to achieve sporting success and win the hearts of the fans"
• First appearance: Sophia Flörsch to represent Opel GSE Formula E Team at the official Formula E GEN4 launch in Le Castellet

The Opel GSE Formula E Team has signed its first driver: Sophia Flörsch will join the German factory team as a test and development driver as it enters the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The 25-year-old German will make her first public appearance on April 21 and 22, when the new GEN4 cars of the all-electric series will be officially presented in France.

"With Sophia's signing, we at Opel are sending a clear signal for the consistent promotion of young talents in electric motorsport. Her precise technical feedback as well as her analytical way of working in the simulator and on the track will play an essential role in the further development of our GEN4 package," said Team Principal Jörg Schrott. "At the same time, her fresh approach fits perfectly with our OMG! GSE campaign, with which we present the emotional side of our all-electric high-performance models. We combine targeted talent promotion with high sporting standards and thus strengthen the visibility of a new generation in motorsport that combines sporting performance with public presence."   

Sophia Flörsch: Successful driver with team spirit and ambitions

Sophia Flörsch began her career in karting before moving up to motor racing in 2015 and making a splash in the British Ginetta Junior Championship as the youngest winner. Through stints in the ADAC Formula 4, the European Formula 3 Championship and the Formula Regional European Championship, she established herself in single-seater racing and made history by becoming the first woman to score points and podium finishes in both the German Formula 4 and later in the FIA Formula 3 Championship. In the years that followed, she successfully continued her career in prototype and GT racing, finished on the podium in the European Le Mans Series, finished in the top 10 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) – and is now considered one of the most prominent women in international motorsport.

"Formula E is currently the toughest racing series in the world – and that's exactly where Opel and I are now competing together. The fact that a brand with 125 years of motorsport DNA is now taking the step into a world championship is impressive. As a German driver, being part of this factory team is more than a privilege for me," said Sophia Flörsch. "The GEN4 car is a thoroughbred race car: over 800 hp, all-wheel drive, ultra-fast. I can't wait to go into depth with the engineers, understand this car and get the maximum out of it. Together, we want to show what true teamwork can do – achieve sporting success and win the hearts of motorsport fans for Opel and Formula E."

When Formula E, manufacturers and teams present the GEN4 all-electric racing cars in Le Castellet in a few days, Sophia Flörsch will be at the wheel of the Opel race car. The 25-year-old racing driver from Munich has already reeled off her first kilometres in the GEN4 in the simulator and got to know the Opel family during a visit to the Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim. Flörsch will be firmly involved in the test programme with immediate effect, supporting the team in development and simulator work and gaining targeted experience in the new Opel Formula E race car in the rookie sessions.

Opel talent promotion: First electric one-make rally cup as a springboard

Opel has a long-standing tradition of consistent talent development in motorsport, ranging from classic rally and circuit racing to all-electric rallying. With the ADAC GSE Rally Cup and its predecessor series, Opel has been opening a clear path to promotion to the European Junior Rally Championship for young drivers since 2013. This approach has already produced several titles and is now being continued at world championship level with the Opel GSE Formula E Team.

At the same time, Opel is also bringing the all-electric rally feeling to the road for customers. This is ensured by the production version of the Mokka GSE Rally, the new Opel Mokka GSE. The up to 200 km/h fast battery-electric performance car and ‘Golden Steering Wheel 2025’ 2 winner brings 207 kW (281 hp) of power and 345 Newton metres of torque to the road.

[1] The values of a vehicle depend not only on the efficient use of fuel by the vehicle, but are also influenced by driving behaviour and other non-technical factors.

[2] AUTO BILD issue 47/2025 and BILD am SONNTAG issue 47/2025, category ‘Small Cars’.

From 2026/27 Season: Opel to Compete in Formula E

• Four-year contract: Opel GSE Formula E Team will compete in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship as of next season
• Next level for GSE sub-brand: German high-tech engineering in the world’s fastest-growing racing category
• More exciting, faster, more powerful: GEN4 racing cars with up to 600 kW and permanent all-wheel drive
• Opel CEO Huettl: “Formula E marks a new milestone on our journey to an electric future”
• Racing DNA: Opel builds on many years of experience in circuit racing and all-electric rallying

Opel is about to write a new chapter in its long and successful motorsport history. Starting from the 2026/27 season, the brand will be competing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship as a factory team. With the ‘Opel GSE Formula E Team’, the Rüsselsheim-based company is taking its commitment to electric motorsport to the next level and at the same time showcasing its powerful, all-electric GSE models. As a German brand with a long motorsport tradition and victories in rallying, touring cars and endurance racing, Opel is now bringing its technical expertise to the world’s fastest-growing racing series. This was officially announced by Opel CEO Florian Huettl and Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds and at a press conference at the Spanish circuit of Jarama today.

“Joining Formula E marks a new milestone for Opel on our journey towards an electric future,” said Opel CEO Florian Huettl. “With Formula E moving to GEN4 cars as of the coming season, we see this as the ideal time to join this exciting, all-electric racing competition. Our Opel GSE Formula E Team will show what our brand stands for: German engineering, bold design and electrified performance, attributes that also apply to Opel’s fully-electric GSE models such as the Mokka GSE and soon the new Corsa GSE.”

“We are delighted to welcome Opel as a new factory team in Formula E,” said Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E. “As a strong German brand with distinctive engineering expertise and a fresh, bold image, Opel brings a long and storied history in motorsport and a new dynamic to the starting grid. Opel’s commitment also shows the importance of Formula E for global car manufacturers in the transition to electric mobility.”

Formula E GEN4: Next step for Opel in All-Electric Motorsport

For Opel, participation in Formula E represents the next logical step in all-electric motorsport. The introduction of the GEN4 cars for the upcoming Formula E season is therefore exactly the right time for Opel to demonstrate its own motorsport know-how and return to the circuit with forward-looking technology. GEN4 marks the biggest leap in performance in the history of Formula E. The all-electric race cars will achieve a peak output of up to 600 kW (816 hp) in qualifying and attack mode – a whopping 250 kW (340 hp) more than before. In addition, the fourth generation of vehicles has permanent instead of temporary all-wheel drive, which will provide significantly more grip. This will make Formula E even faster and more exciting. At the same time, the capacity for energy recovery will be increased to up to 700 kW, which will benefit the efficiency and range of the race cars.

While test drives of the new generation of vehicles are taking place across Europe, the Opel motorsport department, headed by Jörg Schrott, is setting up. A team of vehicle, development and strategy engineers and operational management is already preparing for the start of the season. While the Opel GSE Formula E Team is benefiting from Stellantis Motorsport’s extensive experience in developing the GEN4 model, Opel is contributing its German engineering to the new project.

“What began five years ago with the establishment of the first electric rally cup is now reaching its peak with the participation in the FIA World Championship”, said Jörg Schrott, Opel GSE Formula E Team Principal and Director of Opel Motorsport.

As early as in 2021, the Rüsselsheim-based manufacturer launched the ADAC Opel Electric Rally Cup, the world's first electric one-make cup. Over the past five years, young rally talents have demonstrated their skills in the locally emissions-free Opel Corsa Rally Electric. The winner of the respective season also secured a seat in the ADAC Opel Rally Junior Team in order to subsequently contest the Junior European Rally Championship (JERC).

With the start of the new 2026/27 rally season in a few weeks, Opel is maintaining its pioneer role in electric rallying. The GSE Rally Cup participants will compete in exciting competitions in the new Opel Mokka GSE Rally. The high-performance electric rally car has an output of up to 207 kW (281 hp) and 345 Newton metres of torque. It is thus more than twice as powerful as the previous Corsa Rally Electric and offers performance at Rally4 level. A driving experience that is not only reserved for the next generation of rally drivers: With the Mokka GSE, Opel is also bringing the all-electric rally feeling to the road for customers. The production model, which can reach speeds of up to 200 km/h and has already been awarded the ‘Golden Steering Wheel 2025’2 in Germany, is just as powerful as its rally counterpart and shares all high-voltage components as well as many other technical details.

In addition, Opel has decades of experience in classic top-class and amateur motorsport. The brand's previous activities range from the World Rally Championship to the circuit racing with commitments in Formula Opel, Formula 3 or the German Touring Car Masters (DTM). With the participation of the brand with the Blitz in Formula E from the 2026/27 season, Opel is thus taking its commitment to all-electric top-class motorsport to the next level.

OMG! GSE experience in the world’s fastest-growing racing series

With the ‘OMG! GSE’ campaign platform, Opel is presenting its range of high-performance electric cars. The abbreviation GSE stands for ‘Grand Sport Electric’ and is used to describe particularly dynamic electric models. Following the Opel Mokka GSE last year, the Opel Corsa GSE is set to launch in 2026 – perfect timing for the connection between the racetrack, the official team’s name and the road car models.

Before Formula E kicks off its new and now 13th season, the Opel GSE Formula E Team will make its first public appearance during the official GEN4 launch at the Paul Ricard racetrack in Le Castellet in April, giving a first glimpse of its look and further updates.

[1] The values of a vehicle depend not only on the efficient use of fuel by the vehicle, but are also influenced by driving behaviour and other non-technical factors.

[2] AUTO BILD issue 47/2025 and BILD am SONNTAG issue 47/2025, category ‘Small Cars’.