Porsche has unveiled its Mission R concept during the 2021 Munich Motor Show. It features a pure-electric race car designed for a single-make race series similar to the 911 GT3 Cup and GT3 R models. It is a concept car now but hints at the possibility of an electric sports car in the future with a size similar to the existing Porsche Cayman and Boxster models. The Mission R project team members had confirmed that they are also focusing on production cars at the same time.
The Mission R has an almost 80 kWh battery that powers a pair of electric motors that produce a combined 800kW (1,072bhp) in ‘qualifying mode,’ or a continuous 671bhp in ‘race mode.’ The race car will go from zero to sixty miles per hour in 2.5 seconds, with a top speed of over 180 miles per hour.
The team stated that the front motor is primarily responsible for the regenerative braking setup, which allows the system to feed power back to the battery, potentially increasing range and track time. Porsche promises that the hardware placement will provide a classic mid-engine – or “mid-battery” – driving sensation.
Porsche doesn’t provide a WLTP-rated range but claims the Mission R can drive for “30 to 45 minutes” on a full charge, depending on the track layout and performance usage. The Mission R will be able to charge from 5% to 80% in just 15 minutes, at speeds of up to 340kW, thanks to a brand-new 900-volt electrical design (100v higher than the production Porsche Taycan).
The Mission R features many of the same design characteristics as the Taycan, including four-point LED daytime running lights incorporated into the primary headlamp unit. It has the Porsche Active Aerodynamics (PAA) in the lower bumper, which works together with the huge rear wing to aid in generating significant downforce at circuit speeds.
With a two-door shape and sloping roofline, the idea looks more like a Cayman or 911 from the side. The newly created, single-piece roll cage is composed of carbon fibre and is integrated into the car’s and cabin’s design; this set-up does not currently meet FIA clearance, but Porsche hopes to influence regulatory changes in time for the car’s eventual production.
A single-piece rear light bar with integrated Porsche lettering may be found at the rear. This is built into the car’s structure and will most likely be replicated in future production vehicles. The back-end styling is completed by a large active wing.
Interior features a single bucket seat with 3D-printed and 3D-knitted seat foam. The bare-bones dashboard has two displays: a traditional instrument cluster and a separate screen mounted on the steering wheel, flanked by a slew of buttons and switches. Drivers can livestream their stints in the car during testing and racing using two cameras, one fixed and one mobile.
While most cars of this type are based on an existing model, the Mission R appears to have been designed from the start alongside the production car. Future production models, including electric Cayman and Boxster variations, will be influenced by this “tight partnership.”
Ingo Bauer-Scheinhutte who is Porsche’s Manager for Advanced Design Exterior Style said that they can implement the design inspiration in its future production cars and confirmed that the same team is also working on production cars. He also gave hints for a possible two-seat electric sports car by the end of 2024.
