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Mission E: Is this the future of the Porsche 911?

This is Mission E, Porsche’s first full electric concept car, launched last night at the VW Group Night at the 2015 IAA in Frankfurt. Producing 600hp and with a range of 500km (310mi) it gives us a good look at where the Porsche 911 could be heading in the next five years.

With rumours floating around in recent months that a full-electric Porsche 911 could be as close as 2018, the Mission E concept clearly lays out Zuffenhausen’s future, with Matthias Müller explaining that a full electric Porsche car is “less than five years away”.

Mission E uses two permanent synchronous motors (PMSM) similar to those used in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning 919 Hybrid. With an 800-volt drive system, they combine to produce 600hp, allowing the concept car to accelerate from 0-100kph (0-62mph) in less than 3.5 seconds.

Porsche Mission E rear

Porsche claims that, unlike other fully electric vehicles currently on the market, Mission E’s motors can still develop their full power even after multiple, short-interval accelerations.

A similar claim is made about the car’s 500km (310mi) range. At the car’s official unveiling on the Porsche stand this morning, CEO and Chairman, Müller explained that the range is “at least 500km, even when driving in a sporty fashion”.

Like many of Porsche’s current four-wheel drive offerings, the drivetrain comes with Porsche Torque Vectoring while, at the back, rear-wheel steering is utilised to improve manoeuvrability, giving the Mission E concept a theoretical Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of under eight minutes.

Porsche Mission E charging

This, therefore, is not just another environmentally friendly vehicle built to satisfy the green agenda. Mission E is, according to Müller, intrinsically a Porsche in both its dynamics and its styling.

The latter clearly reference the Porsche 911, with the side window shape noticeably inspired by our beloved neunelfer. Inside too, the gesture-controlled, holographic dashboard features five main dials, just like the 911’s iconic setup.

Dynamically, Mission E benefits from the latest lithium-ion battery technology, located in the car’s underbody and running the whole length between the two axles. This not only lowers the centre of gravity, it also evenly distributes the weight between all four corners of the Mission E concept.

Porsche Mission E interior

Charge-wise, Porsche is developing an 800-volt “Porsche Turbo Charging” system that will allow the car to charge to around approximately 80 per cent capacity in about 15 minutes – a record time for a full electric vehicle.

The car will also accept charge from conventional 400-volt stations. Both are connected to the Mission E via a moveable segment in the front left wing and use smaller gauge copper cables than the industry standard.

For more Porsche news from the 2015 IAA Motor Show in Frankfurt, make sure you check back to Total911.com throughout the day.

Porsche Mission E concept

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