To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Porsche sportscars, the company’s designers have come out with a design study called the Mission X. A reinterpretation of a hypercar, with Le Mans-style doors that open upwards to the front, it has a high-performance, efficient electric powertrain in keeping with the times.
The targets for the engineers (which should be met if the car becomes a production model) are to be fastest road-legal vehicle around the Nurburgring Nordschleife; have a power-to-weight ratio of roughly 1 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 900V system architecture and charge roughly twice as quickly as the Taycan Turbo S.
Compact hypercar
Measuring around 4.5 metres long and 2 metres wide, the Mission X is a relatively compact hypercar. With a wheelbase of 2.73 metres, it has the dimensions of the Carrera GT and 918 Spyder. The low-slung bodywork, which is less than 1.2 metres tall, is finished in Rocket Metallic – an elegant paint colour specially designed for the concept car. 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.
A lightweight glass dome with an exoskeleton made of carbonfibre-reinforced plastic extends over both occupants. The Le Mans-style doors are attached to the A-pillar and the roof, opening forwards and upwards. This type of door was previously used on the 917 racing car.
New headlight signature
Another eye-catching feature is the light signature. For the Mission X, the designers have reinterpreted the characteristic Porsche 4-point graphic. The vertical base form of the headlights was inspired by historic racing cars such as the 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.
Debut of new Porsche crest
One special detail is the modernised Porsche crest, which makes its debut on the Mission X. Brushed precious metal, a 3-dimensional honeycomb structure, 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.
Constantly changing
“The Porsche Mission X is a technology beacon for the sportscar of the future. It picks up the torch of iconic sportscars 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,” said Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG. “Daring to dream and dream cars are two sides of the same coin for us: Porsche has only remained Porsche by constantly changing.”