It was on 8 June 1948, that the 356 ‘No. 1’ Roadster became the first sports car bearing the name Porsche to be launched. On the 8 June 2023 the Mission X was revealed to the open-mouthed world. How we have moved on in such a comparatively short time.
The Porsche Mission X is a spectacular reinterpretation of hypercar technology. Le Mans-style doors open up and forward and an enticing interior is revealed. Even the trademark and always beautiful analogue-style clock is still there. This high-performance, high technology car has an ace up its sleeve though: An efficient all electric power-train.
Exterior Features And Marvels
Measuring approximately 4.5 metres in length and two metres wide, the Mission X is a relatively compact hypercar. With a wheelbase of 2.73 metres, its dimensions are similar to those of the brand’s gorgeous Carrera GT and 918 Spyder. For aerodynamic reasons, this highly specified concept car has mixed-size tyres, with 20 inch wheels at the front and 21 inch wheels round the back. Crucially, for added slipperiness, the car is only 1.2 meters tall.
A lightweight glass dome with an exoskeleton made of carbon-fibre extends over both occupants. The Le Mans-style doors are attached to the A-pillar and the roof, and they open forwards and upwards. Fans of the legendary brand will remember that this style of door was previously used in the icon that is the Porsche 917 racing car.
Another eye-catching marvel is the light signature: In the Mission X, the designers have reinterpreted the characteristic Porsche four-point set-up. 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 real statement.
At the back, a full-length light unit that looks as if it is floating characterises the rear of the Mission X. A transparent, illuminated Porsche logo is another standout feature. The sculpted rear light emerges, as if suspended in the air, from a modern support structure and extends across the entire width of the vehicle in four segments. While charging, the ‘E’ in the Porsche logo pulsates, adding a sense of mystery as if this car were a living, breathing thing. Who knows what the future holds?
Inside, The Wonders Continue
The all-important driver focus is paramount as 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 finished in the contrasting Andalusia Brown colour. An odd feature the like of which we have never seen.
The seat shells and their six-point seat belts are integrated into the monocoque with further motor sport parallels like the open-top steering wheel, which features mode switches and shift paddles. There are multiple cameras on board. Recording starts as soon as the driver presses the record button on the multi-purpose controller.
Another highlight is found on the passenger side, where there is a bayonet system embedded in the instrument panel, to which a stopwatch module can be attached. Porsche Design created a special stopwatch module for the Mission X with an analogue and digital display. The clocks are designed for both racetrack and rally use and can display the lap times or health data of the driver, among other information.
Can We Buy One?
IF the Mission X is to go into series production, then the plan is for this hypercar to be the fastest road-legal vehicle ever driven around the Nürburgring. It will have a power-to-weight ratio of roughly one PS per kilogram. It will also, Porsche say, achieve downforce values considerably more than those of the current and hugely desirable 911 GT3 RS. Charging performance will be significantly improved with a 900-volt system architecture that will charge roughly twice as quickly as Porsche’s current favourite EV, the Taycan Turbo S.
The battery is installed centrally behind the seats in the car. This ‘e-core layout’ positions the mass centrally in the vehicle. This is similar to what you see in a conventionally powered mid-engined car and results in excellent agility, so we are told.
Ownership of such a car as this is, for now at least, one for the wish list. If electricity is your thing then the Taycan (see here for a Taycan review) fits the bill; alternatively for fossil-fuel fans, find out about the selection of Porsche sports cars and SUV models available via the comprehensive MHH International export service, shipping cars from the UK to Kenya, New Zealand, the Caribbean and other right-hand-drive destinations. Get in touch to find out more.
Lift-Off
The electric motors in the Porsche Mission X are the next generation of powerful, ‘permanently excited’ synchronous motors. Direct cooling allows the heat from the motors to be dissipated directly at source and their effectiveness to be increased.
This is how the very high peak performance, its consistency and the exceptionally high efficiency associated with motor-sport are achieved.
Thanks to the enormous performance potential of the electric motors, during acceleration power is transferred to the wheels without any power losses via a compact, weight-optimised single-speed transmission. The drive-energy is delivered by a high-performance battery with state-of-the-art technology coupled with, as mentioned elsewhere, a 900-volt system architecture. The very high voltage enables performance advantages without necessitating weight compromises and additional heat losses.
Likewise, the directly oil-cooled battery with high-end cells offers an optimum combination of efficiency, weight and power. The cell chemistry is designed for maximum performance. The position of the battery, enables a low, driver-optimised seating position. In comparison to a conventional underfloor battery, the e-core layout helps centre the weight in the car aiding agility and handling, all augmented by dramatic aerodynamics.
We will have to wait and see if Porsche decide to build this car for sale. Being positive, they do sometimes bring concepts fully to life so we can all live in hope. What we are yet to find out is the range that can be achieved while still exploiting the performance potential and, of course, how much it will cost. In fact, for most ardent drivers, any Porsche will do!
