They never explicitly said it, but it’s quite obvious Porsche’s new Mission E concept shown at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show is an answer to the Tesla Model S. The Mission E is the first all-electric, four-seat concept from Porsche, and with a 600 horsepower electric drive system, a claimed range of 311 miles and all-wheel drive, it seems as though a production version could successfully bring the fight to the established Model S 85D.
Powering the Mission E are two ‘permanent magnet synchronous motors’ which are very similar to those used on the Porsche 919 racecar – this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans winner. The two motors provide an output of over 600 horsepower and are able to get the Mission E from 0-62 mph in 3.5 seconds and from 0-124 mph in 12 seconds. Coupled with all-wheel drive and Porsche Torque Vectoring control, Porsche says the Mission E is perfectly at home on the racetrack and even turned in a sub 8-minute Nurburgring Nordschleife lap.
The Mission E isn’t some impractical electric track-day toy, however. It can travel up to 311 miles on a single charge, nearly as much as Tesla’s Model S85D, which can cover 328 miles. Additionally, the concept also introduces 800-volt charging to the EV world, which compared to current 400-volt electric vehicles offers shorter charging times and reduces weight. As a result, Porsche claims the Mission E can be charged from flat to 80 percent of its capacity in 15 minutes – a new record for EVs.
Inside the Mission E takes current Porsche interior design cues and propels them into the future. The highlight of the cabin is the new curved, low profile driver display that Porsche says it created for ‘the sports car of tomorrow’. The cluster shows five round instruments on its OLED display for various car functions (Connected Car, Performance, Drive, Energy and Sport Chrono) and tracks the driver’s eyes and seat position to keep important information in their line of sight.
Continuing with the high-tech theme, the Mission E can also be configured externally via Porsche’s ‘Car Connect’ tablet system. A vehicle update could adjust chassis, engine or infotainment system settings, which would be accessed through the Porsche Connect store. The system also allows for direct contact with the Porsche Center for remote diagnostics or to schedule appointments, very similar to how Tesla’s servicing and diagnostics are carried out.
The Misson E is only a concept for now, but considering how road-ready it appears, and that Porsche has already taken it around the Nurburgring, we’d say the automaker has every intention on creating a production version. That’s still probably a long way out, though, so for now, we’ll have to enjoy it in concept form on the auto show floor.
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