The Porsche Mission E is 600 Horses of Electrified Awesomeness

Porsche Mission E Concept (Credit: © Porsche)

The Frankfurt Auto Show information has started rolling out, and holy cow, is it starting out with one hell of a bang. Porsche up and surprised all of us by releasing a new concept vehicle that could very well end up at a Porsche dealer near you in just a few years. Ladies and gentlemen, meet the Porsche Mission E.

The first thing that’s sure to catch your eye is its sleek design that spans the gap between the Panamera and the 911 while having a personality all its own. This model boasts the 130 cm (51.2-inch) height that one would expect from a sleek sports car, while the low-cut hood, and the shape of the side window also hark back to the 911. There is also a touch of 918 Spyder in there for good measure. Where the Panamera side comes in is the length of the car, its four doors, and its functional 2+2 seating arrangement – technically, the 911 is a 2+2 as well, but it is far from functional.

Porsche Mission E Concept (Credit: © Porsche)

Powering this mean-looking EV is a pair of electric motors that aren’t too different from those in the 919 Hybrid from Le Mans. These motors pair up to produce 600 horsepower and toss it out to all four wheels. This output results in a 0-to-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint of just 3.5 seconds, while 200 km/h (124 mph) comes in just 12 seconds.

With EVs, the common complaint is range. Well, the Mission E delivers an impressive 500 km (311 miles) of electric range. Once the batteries are out of go-go juice, it takes only 15 minutes to get them back up to 80 percent, which will give you 400 km (249 miles) of range. This super-quick charging time is thanks to the Mission E’s 800-volt electrical system, which is double today’s EVs. What’s more, the Mission E is also reverse compatible with today’s 400-volt charging systems and it works with inductive charging too.

Porsche Mission E Concept (Credit: © Porsche)

Being a Porsche means that the Mission E must have sports car DNA. It delivers on this requirement thanks to its low center of gravity, all-wheel steering, near-perfect weight distribution, aluminum, steel and carbon-fiber body, and staggered carbon-fiber wheels sized 21 inches up front and 22 inches out back. Its roots are further confirmed by a Nurburgring lap time of less than eight minutes.

On the inside, the Mission E really shows its performance side with the aggressive-looking racing bucket seats made from lightweight materials. The dash is about as clean as they come these days, as the gauges are OLED displays and most of the controls are on the gesture control center-mounted holographic display.

Porsche Mission E Concept (Credit: © Porsche)

While the Mission E is officially just a concept for now, I think we are peering into the future of Porsche. Many traditionalists may not like to hear that, but it is the way the German automaker needs to move in order to meet the demands of its wealthiest clients.