Porsche Mission X: Hypercar for the 75th Anniversary

Hypercars and flagship projects have so far been gladly left to others by the German automotive industry. But for its 75th birthday and the umpteenth World Championship participations that did not go quite as grandly, Porsche had to gift itself once again. With an electric hypercar, from which some components might come from Rimac. Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, communicates the new one like this:

“As previously 959, Carrera GT, and 918 Spyder, Mission X provides decisive impulses for the further development of future vehicle concepts.”

And in Zuffenhausen, dreaming is allowed again, without losing the core of the brand:

“Daring to dream and dream cars go hand in hand for us: Only because Porsche has continually changed, has Porsche always remained Porsche.”

With a length of around 4.5 meters, a width of 2 meters, and a height of just under 1.2 meters, the Mission X is a comparatively compact hypercar. The wheelbase is 2.73 meters, matching the dimensions of the Carrera GT and 918 Spyder. For the sake of driving dynamics, the concept vehicle features mixed tires with 20-inch wheels at the front and 21-inch wheels at the rear. Michael Mauer, Head of Style Porsche, explains:

“The Mission X is a clear commitment to the core of the brand. The further developed expression of our brand and product identity is an important compass, guiding us in the development of our production models. The concept study symbolizes a symbiosis of clearly recognizable motorsport DNA with a luxurious overall appearance.”

The Mission X aims to “combine top performance and modern luxury” and, according to the PR statement, prove that hypercars “do not have to look aggressive.” The color Rocket Metallic was specially created and mixed for the concept study. Below the beltline, you can see carbon.

According to Porsche, these components are glazed in a satin finish of Rocket Metallic and are therefore slightly tinted, but their structure is still recognizable. The wheels of the concept study are detailed: at the rear axle, there are almost transparent Aeroblades, turbine-like designed for better brake cooling.

If the Mission X were to go into series production, it is supposed to be the fastest street-legal vehicle on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. It should have a power-to-weight ratio of about one kilogram per PS andachieve downforce values that are significantly above the level of the current 911 GT3 RS; with its 900-volt system architecture, the Mission X is supposed to offer significantly stronger charging performance and charge about twice as fast as Porsche’s current flagship, the Taycan Turbo S. Let’s do a quick calculation: double Taycan charging speed would mean 550 kW, thus a 75 kWh battery would be fully charged in under ten minutes - which wouldn’t quite work, as charging power massively drops towards the end. Therefore, calculated differently: also 200 kilometers of range could be loaded in less than 10 minutes.

The battery arrangement reminds of Rimac – which makes sense too

The battery is installed centrally behind the seats in the vehicle. This so-called E-Core layout centralizes the mass in the vehicle. Similar to a conventionally powered mid-engine vehicle, this provides the foundation for excellent agility.

You sit in the exoskeleton - visually referencing 917 and co.

A lightweight glass dome with an “exoskeleton” (German: “external skeleton”) made of carbon fiber composite material spans the two occupants. The doors are hinged to the A-pillar and the roof and open forward upward. This door concept was already used in the motorsport classic Porsche 917. Another eye-catcher is the lighting signature: on the Mission X, the designers have reinterpreted the characteristic four-point graphic of Porsche. The vertical basic form of the main headlights was inspired by historic race cars like the Porsche 906 or 908 and drawn far down towards the road. A high-tech framework structure frames the LED light modules and presents the exposed narrow elements of the daytime running lights and turn signals. When activated, the light opens like a blink of an eye.

Porsche is also refining the logo: the modernized crest debuts on the Mission X

A continuous, seemingly floating lighting unit characterizes the rear of the Mission X. A special feature here is a transparent, illuminated Porsche lettering. The sculptural rear light develops freely from a modern framework structure and spans, segmented into four elements, across the entire width of the vehicle.

Bold: Differently Colored Seats!

The driver-focused design is evident in the asymmetry of the interior and its color scheme. Both seats are of different colors: except for the Andaluz brown leather pads, the driver's seat is in Kalahari grey, creating a color unity with the center console and instrument panel. In contrast, the passenger seat is entirely in Andaluz brown. Besides the CfK monocoque-integrated seat shells with six-point harnesses, the open-top (Yoke) steering wheel with mode switches and paddle shifters draws another parallel to motorsports. Multiple cameras are onboard. Recording starts as soon as the driver presses the Record button (REC) of the Multi-Purpose Controller.

Optional stopwatches can be attached using a bayonet system

Another highlight is located on the passenger side: A bayonet system is integrated into the instrument panel, to which a clock module can be attached. Porsche Design has specially designed a unique clock module with both analog and digital displays for the Mission X. The clocks can, among other things, display lap times or the driver's vital data.

What does that mean?

Great design, great downforce, not too aggressive lines: The Mission X offers a lot of nice features, but aside from performance, we are especially excited about the battery technology, which is something that urgently needs progress in Germany! To this end, Porsche is now also investing in its own cells – with a high silicon content in the anode. Cellforce in Tübingen, founded by the Porsche joint venture "Customcells", could not only develop them but also manufacture them. Porsche has not (yet) confirmed this, but: Innovation and investment are crucial here! And if all this is then packaged as nicely as in the Mission X, an initially higher price doesn't matter as much...