Porsche unveiled the dramatic two-seater concept car, Mission X, to the world on June 8. This date marks just one day before a special exhibition at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, celebrating the “75th anniversary of Porsche sports cars.”
On June 8, 1948, the “356 No. 1” roadster received its operating permit, making it the first sports car with the Porsche brand name, thus birthing the Porsche sports car brand.
Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Board of Porsche AG, stated, “The Porsche Mission X is a technical beacon for future sports cars, serving as a critical driving force for the progressive development of future vehicle concepts, just like the iconic sports cars 959, Carrera GT, and 918 Spyder that have played a pioneering role for decades.” He also emphasized, “For Porsche, ‘dream’ and ‘dream car’ are two sides of the same coin. We will always remain Porsche through constant change.”
Michael Mauer, Head of Style Porsche, mentioned, “Mission X is a clear commitment to the brand’s core, which remains consistent with the brand and product identity but plays an important role in the development of production series models through an enhanced expression. This concept study embodies a luxurious impression while also exhibiting clear motorsport DNA.”
The Mission X concept study measures approximately 4.5 meters in length and around 2 meters in width, making it a relatively compact pure electric hypercar. With a wheelbase of 2.73 meters, it matches that of the Carrera GT and 918 Spyder. For aerodynamics, it features 20-inch wheels at the front and 21-inch wheels at the rear.
As a pure electric hypercar representing the pinnacle of performance and modern luxury, Mission X demonstrates that a hypercar’s impression need not be solely aggressive, despite its sculptural elements and strong lines. The body, less than 1.2 meters high, is finished in a special elegant Rocket Metallic paint color created for this concept study.
The design elements featuring carbon weave décor are located below the beltline, with components offering a satin finish that retains the clarity of the material structure.
Additionally, the wheels feature intricate designs. The rear axle is equipped with turbine-like air blades for more effective brake cooling.
The lightweight glass dome made from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic covers the spacious interior for two occupants. The Le Mans-style doors are installed at the A-pillar and roof, opening upward at an angle like those of the Porsche 917 racing cars. The light signature, reinterpreted with Porsche’s trademark four-point graphics, serves as a captivating feature for the Mission X.
The vertically-based headlights, inspired by historical racing cars like the Porsche 906 and 908, are lowered enough to provide excellent street illumination. High-tech support structures highlight the slim daytime running lights and indicators exposed on the outer frame of the LED light module. When activated, the lights blink as if winking, while the fully illuminated headlights project an air of confidence.
The rear light unit, creating an illusion of floating in the air, completes the rear design of the Mission X, with the transparent Porsche lettering standing out as a notable feature. Skillfully refined, the rear lights seem to float through support structures and extend across the vehicle’s width in four segments. While charging, the ‘E’ in the Porsche lettering pulses like a heartbeat, adding a mysterious touch.
Furthermore, the modernized Porsche crest is unveiled for the first time with Mission X. The crest, featuring brushed metal, a three-dimensional honeycomb structure, a newly designed horse shape, and a finer gold color, showcases a cleaner and more modernized representation of Porsche’s unique characteristics. The new crest is applied not only to the hood and steering wheel of Mission X but also in a monochrome version to the wheel center.
Due to the asymmetrical interior design and color concept focused on the driver, the two seats reflect different colors. The driver’s seat features leather pads in Andalucía brown, while the remaining parts adopt the same Kalahari gray color as the center console and dashboard. In contrast, the passenger seat uses the contrasting Andalucía brown color. In addition to carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic seat shells and six-point safety belts integrated into the monocoque, the open-top steering wheel, equipped with a mode switch and shift paddles, adds a motorsport connection. Moreover, the numerous cameras equipped in the vehicle begin recording as soon as the driver presses the record button (REC) on the multifunction controller.
Another highlight is the bayonet mount on the passenger side, allowing for the attachment of a stopwatch module to the dashboard. For the Mission X, Porsche Design created a special stopwatch module equipped with both analog and digital displays. This module can display lap times and essential driver data, making it perfect for use in racetracks and rallies.
The battery of the Mission X is located near the center of the vehicle, behind the seats. This structure, named “e-core layout,” places the center of gravity at the middle, similar to a typical mid-engine setup, providing a foundation for exceptional agility.
The Porsche 959 (1985), the first production Porsche model made of carbon fiber and the first street-legal vehicle to complete the Nürburgring Nordschleife in under 7 minutes, along with the fastest production cars of its era, the Carrera GT (2003) and 918 Spyder (2013), all serve as conceptual predecessors to the Mission X.
Porsche 959 debuted in 1985 as a technological platform. This super sports car combined a 450 PS 6-cylinder twin-turbo boxer engine with an aerodynamically optimized body to achieve a top speed record of 317 km/h for production sports cars at that time.
The Porsche Carrera GT, with its V10 engine providing 612 PS, intense design, and unparalleled driving experience, remains an icon of super sports cars today.
Porsche’s hybrid technology reached its peak with the 918 Spyder. In September 2013, this two-seater vehicle, producing a maximum output of 887 PS, completed the 20.6 km Nürburgring Nordschleife with a lap time of 6 minutes and 57 seconds, becoming the first street-legal vehicle to break the 7-minute barrier.
To maintain its reputation as the standard for top E-performance, Porsche aims for the Mission X to become the fastest street-legal vehicle in the world at the Nürburgring Nordschleife when it enters production.
Jin Lee daedusj@autodiary.kr