Porsche Charts Electric Hypercar Future With Speedy ‘Mission X’ Concept
The Carrera GT-channeling concept aims to become the fastest road-legal car on the Nürburgring test track.
Porsche has unveiled a possible look at the electric future of its flagship supercars with the Mission X concept.
Dressed in an an exclusive Rocket Metallic paint coat, the hypercar comes during Porsche’s 75th anniversary of sports car production. The German marque already makes one of the most successful high-end EVs in the Taycan, which began life as the similarly named Mission E concept in 2015, seemingly making the Mission X’s production potential more than plausible.
“The Porsche Mission X is a technology beacon for the sports car 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 critical impetus for the evolutionary development of future vehicle concepts,” Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG, said in a statement.
“Daring to dream and dream cars are two sides of the same coin for us: Porsche has only remained Porsche by constantly changing.”
The Mission X measures 177 inches long and 78.7 inches wide with a wheelbase of 197.4 inches—virtually the same compact dimensions as the 2000s-era Carrera GT and succeeding Porsche 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid. It sits lower to the ground, rising only 47.2 inches from the pavement.
A lightweight carbon fiber plastic dome encloses two occupants, while butterfly doors hinged the A-pillar and roof are borrowed from the legendary, Le Mans-winning Porsche 917 racing car.
A full-length LED light unit featuring transparent Porsche lettering highlights the rear—while charging, the “E” of the Porsche lettering pulses. The front also features the first application of Porsche’s latest crest, which now boasts more brushed gold and a three-dimensional honeycomb structure.
Inside, the Kalahari Grey driver’s seat is color-matched to the steering wheel, while the Andalusia Brown passenger seat informs the leather padding used on the the dash and center console. Despite the luxe upholstery, the interior is largely set-up for the track, with six-point seatbelts, a yoke-style steering wheel with many buttons and switches, and a “bayonet system” embedded in the instrument panel to which a specially designed stopwatch module can be attached for lap time logging.
The racy setup speaks to the Porsche Mission X’s goal: to be the fastest road-legal ride around the Nurburgring. Currently the production-car record is held by Mercedes, with the Mercedes AMG One running a 6:35.18 lap time set in 2022, Car and Driver reports.
Few specifics on performance were offered, but Porsche does envision a power-to-weight ratio of one horsepower to 2.2 pounds, better downforce than developed by the current 911 GT3 RS, and half the charge time offered by Porsche’s top-end EV, the Taycan Turbo S.
Only time will tell if the Mission X will become the most extravagant Porsche on the road, but with Porsche’s proven electric pedigree, it seems likely.