Automotive

Porsche to take all-electric Mission E concept to production

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Porsche estimates a 311-mile range and 3.5-second 0-62 mph time for its all-electric car
C.C. Weiss/Gizmag
The Porsche Mission E debuted as a 590-hp electric four-door concept car
Porsche will be bringing the Mission E to production within the next few years
Inside the 2015 Porsche Mission E concept
The Mission E concept features an OLED instrument panel
Inside the Porsche Mission E concept car
The Mission E concept has a distinct face with LED headlights connected to air inlets
The Mission E features an illuminated 3D "PORSCHE" badge
C.C. Weiss/Gizmag
Porsche Mission E at IAA 2015 in Frankfurt
C.C. Weiss/Gizmag
The Mission E shows a distinctive four-point matrix LED headlight design
C.C. Weiss/Gizmag
Porsche estimates a 311-mile range and 3.5-second 0-62 mph time for its all-electric car
C.C. Weiss/Gizmag
Porsche Mission E at the Frankfurt Motor Show
C.C. Weiss/Gizmag
Porsche Mission E at the Frankfurt Motor Show
C.C. Weiss/Gizmag
The Mission E concept has a series of air inlets and outlets for better efficiency and performance
C.C. Weiss/Gizmag
Porsche Mission E at the Frankfurt Motor Show
C.C. Weiss/Gizmag
Porsche Mission E at the Frankfurt Motor Show
C.C. Weiss/Gizmag
Porsche Mission E at the Frankfurt Motor Show
C.C. Weiss/Gizmag
Porsche Mission E at the Frankfurt Motor Show
C.C. Weiss/Gizmag
Porsche Mission E at the Frankfurt Motor Show
C.C. Weiss/Gizmag
Porsche Mission E at the Frankfurt Motor Show
C.C. Weiss/Gizmag
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Porsche already has experience building one of the most capable hybrid supercars of all time in the 918 Spyder, and now it's moving on to an all-electric car. The Mission E concept that it revealed at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show has been given the go-ahead for production and will launch before decade's end.

"We are resolutely taking on the challenge of electric mobility," says Dr. Oliver Blume, chairman of Porsche's executive board. "Even with solely battery-powered sports cars, Porsche is remaining true to its philosophy and offering our customers the sportiest and technologically most sophisticated model in this market segment."

At Frankfurt, the Mission E concept was powered by a pair of permanent magnet synchronous motors teaming up for about 590 hp (440 kW). That power number and the acceleration estimate of 3.5 seconds for the 0-62 mph (100 km/h) sprint aren't quite in the same league as the world class 918, but they're nothing to scoff at and sound about right for an all-electric Porsche four-seater.

Porsche Mission E at the Frankfurt Motor Show
C.C. Weiss/Gizmag

Porsche's production confirmation restates those power and acceleration specs, along with the 500+ km (311+ mile) range and accompanying 800-volt charging system that Porsche says can bring the floor-integrated lithium-ion battery up to 80 percent in 15 minutes. Porsche also reiterates the concept car's wireless charging capabilities.

When we looked at the concept back in September, we declared it a leading candidate for best-looking car of 2015, and now that the year's almost over, we can say that it's still up near the top. It was among the first cars to earn a spot on our our forthcoming "top concept cars of the year" list. Stuttgart has injected just the right amount of Porsche DNA into a greater aesthetic that's fresh enough for the face of a brand-new all-electric model. We especially like the new matrix LED headlight design and arched front fenders.

Concept components and pieces like the white-and-black wheels and (hopefully) emoticon-generating interior camera system might get left behind, but Porsche is clear that the "highly emotional design" was the most talked about part of the Frankfurt show car, an early indication that it won't change the car's look too drastically when moving from concept to production.

The Mission E may be the first electric car from the entity we know as Porsche, but it's not the first electric from the Porsche namesake. Long before he started Porsche in 1948, Ferdinand Porsche worked as an auto designer for other entities, including Austrian coachbuilder Ludwig Lohner. The very first car he designed was the 1898 Egger-Lohner electric vehicle, C.2 Phaeton model, nicknamed P1.

The carriage-like P1 may look like it got its horsepower from actual horses, but it had a 3-hp electric motor mounted transversely between the front and rear wheels. As the story goes, the model spent more than a century in storage before Porsche recovered it and brought it to the Porsche Museum just last year, calling it the "very first Porsche."

Porsche Mission E at the Frankfurt Motor Show
C.C. Weiss/Gizmag

Nearly a century and a quarter after that first electric "Porsche" made its debut, Porsche will bring its new all-electric car to the streets. It says the production Mission E will appear at the end of the decade. It will be investing €700 million (approx. US$758.5 million) over the next few years into improvements on its Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen production center, which will include building a new assembly plant and paint shop, adding electric motor production capabilities and expanding the body shop. It will also be investing in its Weissach development center.

Source: Porsche

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8 comments
Daishi
The prospect of an 800v charger is probably as interesting as the car itself but I wonder if that means creating a separate charge plug/standard or adding another set of pins below the Mennekes Type 2 and SAE Combo charge plug.
The initial charging plugs/standards that were meant for 120 and 220v charging are getting huge as the plugs are expanded to add more and more pins. Tesla is the only standard that was designed with the 400v charging capability built into the original form factor of the plug without adding an extra set of lower pins and because of that it's about 1/3 of the size of the other plugs: http://i.imgur.com/JDuGus9.jpg
There are already almost as many charging standards as there are types of fuel at a gas station. Especially when we crack the code on supercapacitors there probably needs to be charging standards above 400v but it's early enough in the game that that we should just drop some of the legacy standards that were never even originally designed to support 400v or we are going to end up with basketball sized 1200v charge plugs at some point in the future and people driving around with a suitcase of expensive adapters.
Tom Lee Mullins
I think that is really neat.
Perhaps the technology of these more expensive vehicles would trickle down to less expensive vehicles?
guzmanchinky
Number one: WHY didn't they make the Panamera look this good? Number two: It still feels like everyone is trying to play catch up with Tesla. Sub 3 sec 0-60 and Autopilot. Cmon Benz, BM, Audi, Etc....!
Bob Flint
Prima ohne Außenspiegel..4 Rad-Antrieb?
Madlyb
Thank you for not being clueless and calling this car a "Tesla Killer" like the rest of the media. We can evaluate that moniker when they actually have a production version...with real specs...and a price...in 2020 no less.
But, I agree with appraisal of the looks. Probably one of the best looking Porsche's I have ever seen. I hope this design survives the translation from concept to production...including the black and white wheels...they are awesome.
Stephen N Russell
This Id drive but= to Tesla BUT not in Range Boost range to 400 miles ,560 vs Tesla alone. Must for Rentals & Sales See Clutchdrive.com for all Porsche models. Id drive this ( with longer range). Awesome
TROYKN
I wouldnt care if its 0-62 was 13 seconds. Its one of the cleanest, most beautiful cars I have ever seen.
Gizmowiz
The Tesla P100D will run circles around it.