Porsche just pulled the cover off of what might be its most radical build ever. It’s saying it is being seriously evaluated for production. The Mission X is that car. Keep that in mind as we pour over the hypercar EV to discover its promise of heightened electromobility. Also, keep in mind that it has been almost 10 years since Porsche last produced an electric hypercar. That would be the hybrid 918 Spyder in 2015. 

Porsche is fully all-in on an electrified future with the Taycan and its e-Performance. But as exciting as that is, Porsche needs a hyper-performance EV halo car to sprinkle magic down to all of its coming production EVs. That’s what Mission X provides, and does with aplomb. 

What are Porsche’s goals for Mission X?

The automaker looked to its past to define its next Porsche 959 from 1985, Carrera GT from 2002, and the 918 Spyder. To that end, Porsche set down four objectives for producing Mission X:

1. Be the fastest road-legal vehicle around the Nürburgring Nordschleife;
2. Have a power-to-weight ratio of roughly one PS per kilogram;
3. Achieve downforce values that are well in excess of those delivered by the current 911 GT3 RS;
4. Offer significantly improved charging performance with its 900-volt system architecture and charge roughly twice as quickly as Porsche’s current frontrunner, the Taycan Turbo S.

How come the Porsche Mission X doesn’t look angry?

Overall, it has the same footprint as the Carrera GT and 918 Spyder, with a 107.4-inch wheelbase. Barely 47 inches tall, the body clearly defines itself as a Porsche. The carbon fiber body uniquely incorporates a LeMans-style “dome” that drivers access with forward-hinged gullwing doors. 

At the rear, a full-length suspended lightbar hangs in four segments. The “Porsche” lettering lights up and stands out. It also pulses during charging. Overall, the effect is clean and compelling. 

What about the powertrain?

Porsche isn’t saying much about the powertrain, but we know several things about the battery and cooling. Placed centrally behind the driver, the 900-volt system offers the same 50/50 weight ratio as do typical mid-engine cars. The battery is also a structural member. Its cooling systems wind “into the supporting structures of the body.”

The cabin features carbon-shell bucket seats, made distinct for driver and passenger using different color-dyed leather. Digital displays flank the driver’s compartment, with a prominent housing for a digital or analog stopwatch facing the passenger. Porsche also mentions the myriad of cameras incorporated into Mission X. 

Each of the motors (we don’t know how many) is cooled by oil that is run directly onto the stators, so heat is dissipated quickly, increasing performance. All of the power is directed through a one-speed transmission. 

With Nürburgring Nordschleife in its sights, we’ll know more soon. From the press release and overall tone of the concept, Porsche is more than hinting this is its next Carrera GT production hypercar. We look forward to hearing more about the high-styled EV.