At Porsche, innovative concept cars have always laid the groundwork for the future. The sports car manufacturer is continuing this tradition with this latest concept study. The 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 and celebrated its premiere on 8 June 2023 - the eve of the "75 Years of Porsche Sports Cars" exhibition opening at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. A special date: 75 years ago, on 8 June 1948, the 356 "No. 1" Roadster became the first automobile bearing the name Porsche to receive its general operating permit. This was the birth of the sports car brand.
Measuring approximately 4.5 m long
and 2 m wide, the Mission X concept study is a relatively compact
hypercar. With a wheelbase of 2.73 m, it has the dimensions of the
Carrera GT and 918 Spyder. For aerodynamic purposes, the concept car has
mixed-size tyres, with 20-inch wheels at the front and 21-inch wheels
at the rear.
The Mission X represents the pinnacle of performance
and modern luxury. At the same time, its sculpted form and muscular
lines demonstrate that hypercars don’t have to look aggressive. The
low-slung bodywork, which is less than 1.2 m 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. These components are varnished in a satin finish and are
therefore 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 aeroblades,
which are designed like turbines for better cooling of the brakes.
A
lightweight glass dome with an exoskeleton made 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 type of door was previously used on the
legendary Porsche 917 racing car. Another eye-catcher is the light
signature: for the Mission X, the designers have reinterpreted the
characteristic Porsche four-point graphic. 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.
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 width of the vehicle in four segments. While charging, the ‘E’ of the Porsche lettering pulsates, adding a sense of mystery.
One
special 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 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 the 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, which has mode switches and shift paddles. There are multiple
cameras on board. Recording starts as soon as the driver presses the
Record button (REC) 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. For the Mission X, Porsche Design has created a special stopwatch module with an analogue and digital display. The clocks are designed for both racetrack and rally use and can display the lap times or vital data of the driver, among other information.
Porsche exemplifies e-performance yet is also a pioneer in sustainable mobility. The concept study meets both objectives in full measure. The visions: if the Mission X goes into series production, then it should 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 in excess of those delivered by the current 911 GT3 RS; and offer significantly improved charging performance with its 900-volt system architecture and charge 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 car, this provides the basis for excellent agility.
The fastest series-production car of its time; first series-production Porsche to be made of carbon fibre, and the first road-legal vehicle to beat the seven-minute mark on the Nürburgring Nordschleife - the Porsche 959 (1985), Carrera GT (2003) and 918 Spyder (2013) were milestone models in the world of super sports cars. And that makes them the conceptual forerunners of the Mission X.
In 1985, the Porsche 959 made its debut as a technology platform. Its 450 PS six-cylinder twin-turbo boxer engine, combined with an aerodynamically optimised body, propelled the super sports car to a top speed of 317 km/h - then the world record for a series-production sports car.
With its V10 engine and 612 PS, fierce design and, not least, its incomparable driving experience, the Carrera GT remains an icon among super sports cars to this day.
Porsche hybrid technology reached a spectacular zenith with the 918 Spyder. In September 2013, the 652 kW (887 PS) two-seater was the first road-approved vehicle to crack the seven-minute barrier on the Nürburgring’s 20.6-km Nordschleife, completing the lap in 6:57 minutes. Porsche aims to stay true to this standard of the highest e-performance. The vision, should the Mission X go into series production, is for it to be the fastest road-legal vehicle on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
