94 replies to this topic

[thegamer23]

 

 

It's coming!

 

Will be revealed TONIGHT at 19.30 CEST time, in Montecarlo!   

 

The next step in the evolution of the Formula E cars, between GEN 3 and GEN 4 comes the GEN 3 EVO.

The GEN 3 EVO is set to address most of GEN 3 weaknesses, making it a big step towards performance compared to the current car.

 

 

 

RUMORED FEATURES:

- Softer tyre compound by Hankook. Should make the cars drive better through the corners and maximize the acceleration potential.

- Front Motor is set to be activated for Attack Mode and Qualifying. It will make the car a 4 wheel drive veichle.

- Evolution of the current body-kit, to make the car a bit more pleasing to the eye! 

 

 

 

 

From Formula E CEO's Jeff Dodds words: 

 

- GEN 3 EVO looks a bit different than GEN 3, even though it is born from the same base. It has more "street presence"

- GEN 3 EVO is set to be "Materially" quicker than GEN 3. People will be very surprised to see its performance.

- GEN 3 EVO numbers are so impressive that there were discussions about classifiying it as "GEN 4" already.

 

 

Sounds cool right?

 

 

 

 

 

Also the car is set to be driven on the track for the first time during the upcoming Montecarlo Formula E weekend!

 

DC himself will take it to the track on Saturday for a lap or two around the course! 

 

 

 

 

 

.

Edited by thegamer23, 25 April 2024 - 08:17.

[JHSingo]

Hopefully it's less hideous than the current version.

 

I know it's been around for a while now, but every time I see it, my first thought is still of how bloody awful it looks. 

[Ben1445]

I’m confident it will look quite a bit better, especially with a narrowed nose section and less of a snub-nosed delta. But whether that makes it a genuinely good looking racecar or merely a slightly less bad disaster wagon might depend on your opinion of the current spec.

Hopefully the performance improvements are as significant as has been teased in any case.

[Ben1445]

Teaser Video 

 

https://www.youtube....rts/yD-YC4_qSZk

 

Edited by Ben1445, 25 April 2024 - 09:38.

[thegamer23]

Seems more slim and thin indeed, also F-W looks bit different!

 

From this blurry pic it has much less of the "dorito" look many hated, but we shall see better tonight!

Edited by thegamer23, 25 April 2024 - 09:47.

[Ben1445]

Doesn’t actually reveal an awful lot that we weren’t already expecting:

In terms of looks I think we’re expecting a Gen1-facelift style front wing, a Gen2Evo-style slim down of the nose (less Dorito like?) and some sort of extra deflector/flap/winglet on the top of the sidepods in front of the rear wheels perhaps not unlike the IndyCar road course configurations from the aero-kit era.

Will need to see more angles to learn if there’s anything else different. We don’t know what the side pods are like from the side, for example. Or if the roll hoop area has been revised in any way.

Edited by Ben1445, 25 April 2024 - 10:04.

[RSRally]

Front wing looks pretty similar from the teaser video but the major change seems to be the transition from the sidepods to the nosecone.

[juicy sushi]

Dark teaser photo shows the fin on top of the charging port and extra side fins next to the roll hoop have been removed. Bur also the rear deck bodywork has a substantial bump “up” for no apparent reason.

[RSRally]

Dark teaser photo shows the fin on top of the charging port and extra side fins next to the roll hoop have been removed. Bur also the rear deck bodywork has a substantial bump “up” for no apparent reason.

If you mean the one in the OP i think that's a Gen2.

[thegamer23]

Ye, that's a placeholder image not related to Gen 3 EVO 

Edited by thegamer23, 25 April 2024 - 12:11.

[Ben1445]

Very hard to tell from the track teaser if they’ve kept, modified or removed the roll hoop side baffles (that’s what I’m calling them anyway, not least since their presence is rather baffling) but I think they’re either kept or modified

[juicy sushi]

If you mean the one in the OP i think that's a Gen2.

Formula E doing me dirty like that.

[Ben1445]

I’d like someone (FE, teams, media) to give us a hint on the measurable performance impacts of the new aero package. How does it affect downforce and drag?

Gen2Evo (which we never saw on track before it was cancelled as part of Covid cost savings) was supposed to have given 10-15% more downforce for 10% less drag than the initial spec - many of those bat-mobile appendages being more tailored for visuals than pure performance.

We will see if they say anything about what exactly brings the performance improvements in Gen3Evo later, perhaps.

[juicy sushi]

I mean, I'd be happier if they just kept downforce where it was and got rid of as much drag as possible.  I don't want extra downforce ruining the fun that the current FE car provides specifically because it hasn't got much downforce.

[RSRally]

I mean, I'd be happier if they just kept downforce where it was and got rid of as much drag as possible. I don't want extra downforce ruining the fun that the current FE car provides specifically because it hasn't got much downforce.

I would like them to go around corners faster but i think the tyres can do a lot of the heavy lifting there.

Edited by RSRally, 25 April 2024 - 14:34.

[juicy sushi]

I would like them to go around corners faster but i think the tyres can do a lot of the heavy lifting there.

Can definitely do ALL the heavy lifting given the current tires on the car…

[Ben1445]

I mean, I'd be happier if they just kept downforce where it was and got rid of as much drag as possible.  I don't want extra downforce ruining the fun that the current FE car provides specifically because it hasn't got much downforce.

I think in Gen2's case it was just indicative of how needlessly draggy the base spec was. It's not like they proposed adding that extra downforce but in doing so added drag on straights/made active aero a requirement. If they could add that extra downforce whilst also reducing drag by similar levels then exactly how much energy/track time was lost during the four years of Gen2 just dragging round subjectively cool-looking bodywork?

 

For Gen3 I'd like to see some drag shaved off at least, and of there is any extra downforce I'd like it to not increase drag - basically just make the thing more efficient from an aero perspective. At the end of the day though there will have been a budget to it and any gains would have to be reflective of that, I guess. 

[AncientLurker]

Teaser Video 

 

https://www.youtube....rts/yD-YC4_qSZk

 

Sadly, it doesn't look like they addressed my biggest visual issue with the Gen3. Those damn LED lights are always on! I hate them so much, they are very distracting.
 

[thegamer23]

• The FIA’s circuit racing chief Marek Nawarecki told FEN that the Gen3 Evo car will contribute to both more exciting acceleration and an improved impact for the attack mode than the first iteration of the Gen3 car.
• “The acceleration, probably qualifying, will be even more dynamic. I think on certain tracks it could be even more challenging for the drivers so that means that we can have a good show there. For example, we saw the evolution of the attack mode so that could also have a positive impact on this one,” said Nawarecki.

 

- 3 hours!  

Edited by thegamer23, 25 April 2024 - 17:12.

[juicy sushi]

A return to the Gen2 effect of Attack mode will be appreciated, although it will also be interesting to see how the peleton strategy responds to that.

[thegamer23]

Here comes the GEN 3 EVO, the evolution of the Gen 3 car, capable of going 0-100 km/h in 1,86 sec!

 

A crazy acceleration number, 36% faster than the Current Gen 3 & 30% faster than a current F1 car.   

It's set to be the fastest FIA race veichle in terms of acceleration.

 

Waiting for more tech info, but it looks slimmer, more aggressive, faster!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by thegamer23, 25 April 2024 - 18:18.

[Muppetmad]

I like it. The boxiness of Gen 3 had a mixed response, but that's very much been rectified with this.

[RSRally]

The front wing and nosecone are a big improvement aesthetically. Said to be more robust too which was an issue drivers were concerned about with Gen3.

Performance gain not startling (2s around Monaco) but i'm confident the 4wd and grippier tyres will deliver better racing.

[Muppetmad]

You could unlock several seconds of pace just with super grippy tyres (to be clear, that's not what I'd like to see). Once the performance gains in all areas are taken into account, I imagine the lap time gain will be more than 2s per lap at Monaco.

[Ben1445]

Oh I do like that.

[thegamer23]

All wheel drive will be used in quali, race start & attack mode!    

 

More info about the car here! 

https://e-formula.ne...in-monaco-32879

 

 

This car seems to be a very big step forward, can't wait to see it on track for the Coulthard's showrun later in the weekend!

(the over-produced lunch vid doesn't tell much)

Edited by thegamer23, 25 April 2024 - 17:50.

[Muppetmad]

I know Hankook don't want to swing too violently in the opposite direction, but a 5-10% grip increase for the new tyre alarms me a little bit. 10% might just about do it; 5% though surely wouldn't be enough.

[Cliff]

On those shitty tires I accelerate quicker on my rusty bike at an Amsterdam stoplight.

[Ben1445]

Definitely seeing some Gen1 lineage in the front-wing

[RSRally]

I know Hankook don't want to swing too violently in the opposite direction, but a 5-10% grip increase for the new tyre alarms me a little bit. 10% might just about do it; 5% though surely wouldn't be enough.

Agree but 5-10% plus 4wd might be enough. Perhaps that is all they can realistically achieve whilst still retaining tread depth sufficient for wet conditions to the end of a race.

[thegamer23]

THERACE: Everything you need to know about GEN 3 EVO!

 

https://www.the-race...w-gen3-evo-car/

 

 

 

The front section looks so much slimmer!

Edited by thegamer23, 25 April 2024 - 18:30.

[Disgrace]

Gen3 as it should have been from the beginning. It does indeed look much better at the front.

[Ben1445]

I mean, I'd be happier if they just kept downforce where it was and got rid of as much drag as possible.  I don't want extra downforce ruining the fun that the current FE car provides specifically because it hasn't got much downforce.

This might be what they've gone for, based on these quotes from e-Formel.de and The Race. 
 

"The Gen3 cars too provided a bigger hole in the air than the Gen2 cars with more drag [...] "The main target of the bodywork changes was improving drag,” said [Dieter] Gass of the Gen3Evo." 

 

"Small air flaps have also been fitted in front of the rear wheels. However, only minimal changes have been made to the aerodynamics, revealed Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds on Wednesday when asked by e-Formula.news - a minimally improved air flow compensates for three additional kilograms more or less." 

 
If that 3kg Dodd's is talking about is extra downforce, really that's something in the order of +1% if you believe my back of the envelope sums. Meanwhile if they've been deliberately focussing on drag reduction around the front wing I'd expect multiple percentage points at least (I'd love to actually have some decent reporting on these figures).

 

You can definitely see how the new front wings are a lot more focussed on managing the air flow around the front tyres, much more along the lines of what we saw for Gen1/Gen2:  

 

[RSRally]

Some more quotes from Autosport:

https://www.autospor...cover/10603249/

[Ben1445]

Gen3 as it should have been from the beginning. 

A perfect summary tbh

[thegamer23]

Yeah, looks like new F-W and thinner front should indeed make the cars less draggy -> less extreme peleton races

[Ben1445]

Well, assuming they don’t lengthen the race distance at least!

[juicy sushi]

Honestly, I'm kind of underwhelmed.  I would have liked to have seen the unecessary extra bits around the roll hoop removed as well for some extra drag reduction, since they're non-functional and they should try to be more efficient.

[Sterzo]

Beware wishing for softer tyres. The risk is they lay down a rubber line and that's where you have to go for grip. Moving off line carries a penalty.

 

The current cars achieve a good balance between performance and race-ability. It would be sad to lose that through increasing power, grip or downforce. If there's something to improve, it's to address the extremes of energy management, which have too great an impact, hence peleton races where we spend most of the race waiting for it to start, and the odd race where someone fades hopelessly and drops out of conterntion.

[maximilian]

Thank goodness they got rid of that fat ass wedge look!

[thegamer23]

Edited by thegamer23, 25 April 2024 - 21:59.

[Peat]

Cool. Looks/sounds promising. 

Now put it somewhere I can watch it without remortgaging my home. 

[Ben1445]

You know, I think it's my favourite FE car spec yet. 

 

The Gen1 car was pretty nice, hard to object to really. There was a kind of Gen1.5/Gen1Evo (though we didn't call it that) with a front wing and battery update for the second half of its run, which I think was a notable improvement (that might actually be my second favourite). 

 

Gen2 was liked by many and was strikingly unique. I genuinely loved it from some angles, but from others thought it looked awkward and bloated. In quite a few ways it was form over function, plus by the time it had been around for four seasons I was ready to move on. 

 

Gen2Evo never raced, but I think was more of a sideways step visually. I think technically it was an aerodynamic improvement, but I think the side pods were still too busy and it definitely looked like a Gen2 car that has been tweaked a bit to be a bit less... mad. 

 

Gen3 I have never disliked as much as some - I think it's alright. But I think the prevalence of the negative reactions shows it was a clear miss, and that drags it down for me too. The wedge-shape was just too avant-garde, and the front wing always seemed out of place. 

 

Gen3Evo is just what it it should have been form the start really (battery issues not withstanding). 

[Ben1445]

[RSRally]

Somewhat controversially I liked Gen2 Evo because i dislike covered front wheels in a single seater.

Once the evo was abandoned did we get ANY tech changes during Gen2? It certainly felt like it dragged on with the same spec car to me.

[Ben1445]

They upped tho race power from 200kW to 220kW and Attack Mode from 235kW to 250kW in its final season. But I think that was all.

Was definitely dragging on though. At some point during the Gen3 development issues they apparently discussed extending Gen2 into a fifth year… but really I think it was a non-starter. They had to push ahead imo.

Edited by Ben1445, 26 April 2024 - 11:14.

[kumo7]

Love it.

[thegamer23]

Made a mockup of the GEN 3 and the GEN 3 EVO side by side in Misano! 

 

You can see how slimmer it is!

 

 

 

More on-track "spy shot" pictures!

 

 

Edited by thegamer23, 26 April 2024 - 11:42.

[MattK9]

Thank goodness they have changed the arrow/wedge at the front of the car. The Gen 3 Evo looks much better than the current car.

 

This list of upgrades is quite long, see article;

https://www.fiaformu...mpaign=AlwaysOn

 

The headline is clearly AWD for attack mode, quali, and race starts. Interesting that the article says attack mode and not attack charge!

 

Otherwise there is lots of other minor upgrades, that could add up to an overall much quicker car. Faster than F1! (only under acceleration because of AWD)

 

 

There is no battery upgrade listed though, which seems like a missed opportunity, conspicuous by it absence. The battery is the weak link of the current Gen3 package

 

Otherwise there is lots of other minor upgrades, 

[thegamer23]

Some interesting quotes from Bruno Correia, FE Safety Car driver and GEN 3 EVO tester!

 

 

"According to Formula E Gen3 Evo test driver Bruno Correia, the new-look car that was officially unveiled last night “will be a game changer on the medium and slow corners".

 

The Formula E safety car driver told Formula E Notebook that “exiting from the apex to the exit and the way you will apply the power with the front wheel tractioning (sic) will be the game changer.

 

“In wet conditions it will be much faster too, you can exit the corners more rapidly,” added Correia “That’s the main difference. On the brakes, it will remain the same, high-speed corners I don’t feel that will have so much relevance unless you are sideway but I think that will not be the case! The speed exiting the corners, that will be quite a big change.”

 

Correia also went on to agree with most race drivers’ opinions that the Attack Mode will now be less redundant than it has been so far in the last 18 months with the present Gen3 car.

 

 We always have the energy management to take in account, but because you have more power and you extract more from the battery you need to have evaluated that.

But I think that the car is becoming faster, with better grip, the overtaking will also be a little more difficult so the relevancy of the attack mode on these conditions will be super important. And we will actually be promoting what the attack mode is for – to make a change on the position and on the race.”

Edited by thegamer23, 26 April 2024 - 17:12.