Jeremy Webb looks at Porsche's all-electric Hyper car built to be the fastest road-legal vehicle around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The Mission X is a concept car propelling the German marque forward. The vehicle will be a test bed for ideas that Porsche will look to incorporate into future vehicles.
Porsche's innovative concept cars have always laid the groundwork for the future. The sports car manufacturer is continuing this tradition with this latest concept study. Mission X is a spectacular reinterpretation of a hypercar, with Le Mans-style doors that open upwards to the front and a high-performance, efficient electric powertrain.
The Mission X is a dramatic-looking two-seater launched on 8 June 2023, the eve of the '75 Years of Porsche Sports Cars' exhibition opening at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart- Zuffenhausen.
Seventy-five years ago, on 8 June 1948, the 356 'No. 1' Roadster became the first automobile named Porsche to receive its general operating permit. This was the birth of the sports car marque.
Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG.
"The Porsche Mission X is a technology beacon for the sports car of the future. It picks up the torch of iconic sports cars of decades past: like the 959, the Carrera GT and the 918 Spyder before it, the Mission X provides critical impetus for the evolutionary development of future vehicle concepts. Daring to dream and dream cars are two sides of the same coin for us: Porsche has only remained Porsche by constantly changing."
Michael Mauer, Head of Style Porsche,
"The Mission X is a clear commitment to the core of the brand. The continuing, enhanced expression of our brand and product identity is an important compass for us to navigate the development of our series-production models. The concept study symbolises a symbiosis of unmistakable motorsport DNA with a luxurious overall impression."
The Mission X concept study is approximately 4.5 metres long and two metres wide, a relatively compact hypercar. Its wheelbase of 2.73 metres has the Carrera GT and 918 Spyder dimensions. The concept car has mixed-size tyres for aerodynamic purposes, with 20-inch wheels at the front and 21-inch wheels at the rear.
Design: classic brand elements reinterpreted
The Mission X represents the pinnacle of performance and modern luxury. At the same time, the sculpted form and muscular lines demonstrate that hypercars don't have to look aggressive. The low-slung bodywork, less than 1.2 metres tall, is finished in Rocket Metallic—an elegant paint colour specially designed for the concept study. Design elements in a carbon-weave finish are found below the beltline. Therefore, these components are varnished in a satin finish and are slightly coloured, but their material structure remains recognisable.
The wheels of the concept study feature elaborate details: the rear axle is fitted with almost transparent aero blades, which are designed like turbines for better cooling of the brakes. A lightweight glass dome with an exoskeleton of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic extends over both occupants. The Le Mans-style doors are attached to the A-pillar and the roof; they open forwards and upwards. This door type was previously used on the legendary Porsche 917 racing car.
Another eye-catcher is the light signature: the designers have reinterpreted the characteristic Porsche four-point graphic for the Mission X. The vertical base form of the headlights was inspired by historic racing cars such as the Porsche 906 and 908 and drawn well down towards the road. A high-tech support structure frames the LED light modules and presents the exposed narrow elements of daytime running lights and indicators. When activated, the light opens up like an eye blinking open. Fully illuminated, the headlights make a confident statement.
The modernised Porsche crest makes its debut on the Mission X
A full-length light unit that appears to float characterises the rear of the Mission X. Transparent, illuminated Porsche lettering is a standout feature. The sculptural rear light emerges as if suspended in the air from a modern support structure and extends across the entire vehicle width in four segments. While charging, the 'E' of the Porsche lettering pulsates, adding a sense of mystery.
One remarkable detail is the modernised Porsche crest, which makes its debut on the Mission X. Brushed precious metal, a three-dimensional honeycomb structure, a refreshed heraldic beast and a more subtle gold colour – on close inspection; these are the differences between the modernised Porsche crest and its immediate forerunner. With its cleaner and more state-of-the-art execution, the refined crest communicates the character of Porsche. On Mission X, it is found on the bonnet and steering wheel as well as in monochrome form on the wheel centres.
The driver focus can be seen in the asymmetry of the interior and its colour concept. The two seats are coloured differently. Apart from the leather pads in Andalusia Brown, the driver's seat is Kalahari Grey and forms a single unit of colour with the centre console and the dashboard. The passenger seat is in the contrasting Andalusia Brown shade. Beyond the CFRP seat shells and their six-point seatbelts integrated into the monocoque, further motorsport parallels include the open-top steering wheel with mode switches and shift paddles. There are multiple cameras on board. Recording starts when the driver presses the Record button (REC) on the multi-purpose controller.
Another highlight is found on the passenger side, where a bayonet system is embedded in the instrument panel to which a stopwatch module can be attached. For Mission X, Porsche Design has created a special stopwatch module with an analogue and digital display. The clocks are designed for both the racetrack and rally use and can display the lap times or vital data of the driver, among other information.
The vision of Porsche Mission X, if it is to go into production, it has to:
• be the fastest road-legal vehicle around the Nürburgring Nordschleife;
• have a power-to-weight ratio of roughly one PS per kilogram;
• achieve downforce values that are well over those delivered by the current 911 GT3 RS;
• offer significantly improved charging performance with its 900-volt system architecture, charging roughly twice as quickly as Porsche's current frontrunner, the Taycan Turbo S.
The battery is installed centrally behind the vehicle's seats. This 'e-core layout' centres the mass in the car. As with a conventionally powered mid-engined vehicle, this provides the basis for excellent agility.