Porsche concept offers a glimpse at the future of performance driving
By Li Fusheng | China Daily | Updated: 2023-06-12 09:26
Porsche unveiled an electric hypercar concept on Friday, which its executive Oliver Blume called a beacon for the sports car of the future.
The Mission X, if it goes into series-production, would be the fastest road-legal vehicle around the 20.8-kilometer Nuerburgring Nordschleife, which is the northern loop of the racetrack in Nurburg, Germany, said Porsche.
It added that the two-seater concept will have more down-force than the 911 GT3 RS and charge almost twice as quickly as the Taycan Turbo S.
The Mission X was unveiled in celebration of the brand's 75th anniversary, with activities held around the world from Stuttgart, Germany, to Guangzhou, China.
Porsche was founded by Ferdinand Porsche in Stuttgart in 1931, which was then transformed into a sports vehicle manufacturer by Ferry Porsche in 1948.
Porsche calls the Mission X "a spectacular reinterpretation of a hypercar", with Le Mans-style doors that open upwards to the front and a high-performance, efficient electric powertrain.
Oliver Blume, chairman of the executive board of Porsche, said: "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," said Blume.
Measuring approximately 4.5 meters long and 2 meters wide, the Mission X has a wheelbase of 2.73 meters, roughly the dimensions of the Carrera GT and 918 Spyder.
For aerodynamic purposes, the concept car has mixed-size tires, with 20-inch wheels at the front and 21-inch wheels at the rear.
The battery is installed centrally behind the vehicle's seats.
This "e-core layout" centers the mass in the car. As with a conventionally powered mid-engined vehicle, this provides the basis for excellent agility.
One special detail is the modernized Porsche crest, which makes its debut on the Mission X.
Differences with its immediate forerunner include brushed precious metal, a three-dimensional honeycomb structure, a refreshed heraldic beast and a more subtle gold color.
Porsche said its cleaner and more state-of-the-art execution communicates the character of Porsche.
On the Mission X, the new logo is found on the bonnet and steering wheel as well as in monochrome on the wheel centers.
Porsche's crest was first used in 1952, on the steering wheel rim of the Porsche 356. It has since gone through a number of design changes but the main elements have remained.
The rising horse in the middle of the Porsche crest is from the seal of the city of Stuttgart, which has its origins in horse breeding. In combination with the city's name above it, Porsche thus identifies with its home in the Swabia region.
The colors black and red and the stylized deer antlers were taken from the traditional crest of Wuerttemberg-Hohenzollern.
Porsche has started its anniversary year with an increase in deliveries globally. In the first quarter, the sports car manufacturer delivered 80,767 vehicles to customers worldwide, up 18 percent year-on-year.
Of them, 21,365 Porsche cars were handed over to Chinese customers, up 21 percent year-on-year, ensuring that China remains the largest single market for the marque.
To celebrate the brand's 75th anniversary, Porsche China is holding an 11-day Festival of Dreams in Guangzhou.
More than 100,000 people are expected to join in the celebrations, making it the largest community event in Porsche China's history.