Porsche Mission X Concept Hypercar Unveiled with Le-Mans Style Doors and a Promise of Insane Performance

Porsche recently introduced the Mission X, its brand-new concept car, to commemorate its 75th year as a celebrated producer of sportscars. The Mission X is a preview of the fast, light, and electric sports cars that might be produced in the following 75 years. It is not currently for sale, and a manufacturing decision will be made in due course. Commenting on the occasion, Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, said, “The Porsche Mission X is a technology beacon for the sportscar 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 a 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.”

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“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 symbolizes a symbiosis of unmistakable motorsport DNA with a luxurious overall impression,” remarked Michael Mauer, Head of Style Porsche. 

Porsche Mission X: Design and Dimensions

The Mission X concept study is a somewhat compact hypercar, measuring around 4,496mm in length and 1,999mm in width. Its proportions are those of the Carrera GT and the 918 Spyder, with a wheelbase of 2,728mm. The concept car sports staggered tyres, with 20-inch wheels in front and 21-inch wheels in back, for aerodynamic reasons. 

In terms of design, the Mission X boasts Le Mans-style doors that open forward and upward, a tribute to the Porsche 917 racing car. "Rocket metallic" paint, satin-finished components, and carbon-weave accents round out the aesthetic. The premium carmaker also updated its classic crest with a "refreshed" heraldic beast and a more modest gold colour. Porsche, though, went past merely window garnishes. According to the firm, the rear axle is equipped with almost transparent aero blades that are shaped like turbines for improved brake cooling, and a lightweight glass dome with an exoskeleton made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic spans over both passengers. 

The Mission X's light signature, which is a new interpretation of the iconic Porsche four-point pattern, is another eye-catching feature. The headlamps' vertical base shape, which is pulled well down towards the road, was influenced by renowned racing vehicles like the Porsche 906 and the 908 in particular. The LED light modules are shown with their exposed, slender daytime running lights and indicators under a high-tech support framework. The light blinks open like an eye when it is turned on. 

Porsche Mission X: Interior and Features

The cabin's asymmetry and colour scheme highlight the driver-focused design. The colours of the two chairs are distinctive. The driver's seat, centre console, and dashboard are all the same colour: Kalahari Grey, with the exception of the leather pads, which are Andalusia Brown. The passenger seat also adorns in the striking Andalusia Brown colour. Additional motorsport similarities are the open-top steering wheel, which features mode switches and shift paddles, along with the CFRP seat shells and their six-point seatbelts incorporated into the monocoque. On board are several cameras. The driver must press the Record button (REC) on the multi-purpose controller before recording can begin.

A bayonet system built into the instrument panel on the passenger side, which allows a stopwatch module to be mounted, is another noteworthy feature. Porsche Design has developed a unique stopwatch module with a digital and analogue display for the Mission X. The clocks may show the driver's vital statistics, lap times, and more. They are made for both racecourse and rally use.

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Porsche Mission X: Technical Details

Porsche has not released any technical information on the Mission X's potential powertrain, but it has provided a "technical vision" that outlines a number of goals that engineers must achieve before the vehicle can enter serial production. These include the goal of breaking the 12.944-mile Nürburgring lap record, which is currently held by the Mercedes-AMG One and was completed in 6 minutes, 35 seconds. With an expected power-to-weight ratio of one metric horsepower (or 0.986bhp) per kilogram, efficiency, and lightweight construction - a longstanding issue for performance EVs - will be equally as important. 

The auto major hasn't specified a target weight, but considering the company's emphasis on lightweight construction, the objective is probably similar to a contemporary 911's weight of 1400 or 1500kg. That would therefore imply a power output of around 1500bhp. According to Porsche, the battery will be mounted behind the car's seats, which is equivalent to where the engine would be in a conventional mid-engined hypercar. The 'e-core' design, which is similar to Porsche's Mission R, allows for a lower floor than with a conventional battery skateboard chassis while also helping to centre the bulk of the vehicle for improved handling. 

Besides, with a target for the Mission X to charge twice as rapidly as the Taycan, Porsche claims it is also pursuing "significantly improved" charging performance for its 900V design. That has a top charging capacity of 225 kW, indicating Porsche is aiming for a speed of 450 kW. With such quick charging, the automobile might be supplied with relatively tiny batteries, lowering its weight. The German manufacturer has not revealed the type or size of batteries the concept would employ, but considering its hypercar-like performance, the company is probably looking at high-performance batteries used for motorsport or hypercars.