Frankfurt 2015: Porsche Mission E Concept revealed

The folks at Tesla Motors may have another reason to stay awake as the Porsche Mission E Concept has just been revealed at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show. Said show car is the Porsche’s first attempt at an all-electric vehicle and is said to usher in a new era for the marque as it combines “the unmistakable emotional design of a Porsche with excellent performance and the forward-thinking practicality of the first 800-volt drive system.”

First off, the concept car looks very much like a Panamera from the future as it features “the sculpture of a sport saloon” and a height of just 1,300 mm. Up front, matrix LED headlights are presented in the now-familiar four-point design while “distinctive front wings and an extremely low-cut bonnet” are said to reference the iconic 911. Cameras mounted on the sides of the car replace mirrors.

Down below, air outlets by the wheel arch help to cut lift while the wheel sizes themselves are measure in at 21-inch in front and 22-inch at the rear – another interesting detail to note are the suicide doors that eliminate the need for a B-pillar. At the rear, a sloping rear window maintains a clean profile while an illuminated Porsche badge sits beneath “arch of light that extends across the entire width in a black glass element.”

The Porsche Mission E Concept is powered by a motorsport-inspired drive system that is comprised of a pair of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM). Total power output is quoted at an equivalent of 600 hp – 0-100 km/h, as a result, is dispatched in under 3.5 seconds while 0-200 km/h takes less than 12 seconds. With all-wheel drive and four-wheel steering, concept is said to lap the Nurburgring in under eight minutes.

An operational range of “over 500 km” has been touted by the German carmaker while obtaining enough power for a range over of 400 km can be obtained in “about 15 minutes.” The reason for this is the adoption of an 800-volt technology system as opposed to a conventional 400-volt setup seen on the majority of electric cars. The earlier mentioned 15-minute charge time is achieved via Porsche’s Turbo Charging system.

Alternatively, the Porsche Mission E Concept can be charged at a regular 400-volt station or via inductive charging. The entire powertrain is juiced up by underfloor-mounted batteries that employ “the latest lithium-ion technology.” Also, to keep overall weight low, the body of the car is constructed from a mixture of aluminium, steel and carbon-fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP).”

Inside, the show car features four individual bucket seats instead of the regular five-seater layout employed on most sedans. Without a transmission tunnel, occupants inside the cabin of the Porsche Mission E Concept are also presented with an airier atmosphere. Also, physical buttons and knobs have been eliminated with the inclusion of OLED display screens and an eye-tracking system.

Elsewhere, a three-dimensional holographic display system with gesture control dominates the dashboard with part of said assembly extending into the front passenger’s field of view. The display portrays individually selectable apps and can be selected by the driver and passenger to tweak “media, navigation, climate control, contacts and vehicle” settings. The car can also be configured remotely via Porsche Car Connect.

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