Although the Mission X features many innovative design concepts, its Porsche DNA is unmistakable. Even without the Porsche crest, this hypercar concept would be instantly recognisable as a model from the sports car manufacturer. The Mission X combines characteristic design features while at the same time offering a glimpse into the future of Porsche’s unmistakable brand and product identity. The concept study evokes legendary racing cars from different eras of the brand’s history and propels them into the future.
Despite its ultimate e-performance and corresponding aerodynamic demands, the body is not a patchwork of jaunty, unappealing angles, but rather a sculpted form shaped by the dynamic surfaces for which the brand is famous. The aerodynamics concept is borrowed from motor racing. The unusual appearance was made possible by directing the airflow through the body. Together with its classical proportions, lightweight glass dome over the cabin and upwardly pivoting Le Mans-style doors, the result is a sports car of superlative design.
“The Mission X is a clear commitment to the core of our brand,” says Michael Mauer, Vice President Style Porsche. “The continuing, enhanced expression of our brand and product identity is an important compass for us to navigate the development of our series-production models. The concept study symbolises a symbiosis of unmistakable motorsport DNA with an overall sense of luxury. “Another very exciting aspect of Mission X is its unifying of apparent contradictions: a highly developed performance capability that coexists with highly efficient, sustainable technology. The design of the concept study once again underscores the brand’s clearly defined design criteria and offers a tantalising glimpse into the future.”
Lightweight glass dome and Le Mans-style doors: a futuristic concept
Instead of the usual glasshouse with a metal roof and conventional side windows, here the occupants ride in style beneath a lightweight glass dome. With its transparent surface, the spectacular roof structure is reminiscent of an aircraft cockpit or of earlier racing cars such as the Porsche 917 (1969). Smaller windows that can be lowered have been integrated into the larger side windows. The lines are all but seamless.
Like in the Mission R (2021), Porsche has used an ‘exoskeleton’ as the support structure. This carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic structure combines low weight with a striking appearance. Above the front window there is a small additional glass area. This ‘Daytona window’ was utilised in historic racing cars to enable improved visibility in banked turns and offers an even more open sense of space in the Mission X.
Equally sensational: the Le Mans-style doors are attached to the A-pillars and the roof, and they open forwards and upwards. This type of door was previously used in the legendary Porsche 917 racing car. There is a projector integrated in the driver’s door. This underscores the performance-oriented approach yet again: the current conditions on the racetrack are projected onto the ground: outside temperature, relative humidity and wind speed are displayed digitally to the driver before they climb into the car.
Silhouette: long and sweeping in the style of iconic racing cars
As with the legendary Porsche 917, the silhouette of the Mission X traces a rising line from the low, flat front bodywork up over the wings. The front end is offset from the rear, with the two sections having the appearance of two bodies pushed into each other. This both underscores the stark, three-dimensional sculpture and is at the same time part of the aerodynamics concept in which the airflow is directed through the front end with maximum efficiency.
The body is finished in Rocket Metallic – an elegant paint colour specially designed for the concept study. The special feature of this is its ‘flip effect’: depending on the viewing angle, the brown appears darker. Design elements in a carbon-weave finish feature below the beltline. This includes the side skirts, the front splitter and the large rear diffuser. These components are varnished in a satin finish and are therefore slightly coloured, but their material structure remains recognisable.
The area immediately behind the front wheels is exposed in classic racing car fashion, which allows better ventilation of the wheel arches. While the exterior has the classic Porsche combination of highly dynamic yet visually calm surfaces without decorative styling elements, the wheels of the concept study are elaborately detailed in line with their technical requirements: at the front, they are only lightly clad to allow the airflow necessary to cool the brakes. The wheels at the rear, meanwhile, are fitted with almost transparent aeroblades, which are designed like turbines for better cooling of the brakes. They are reminiscent of the legendary ‘turbine blade’ wheels of the Group A rally cars from the end of the 1980s. The alloy wheels (20 inches at the front, and 21 inches in diameter at the rear) feature a deep-dished design. The bronze-gold double spokes are relief milled, and as such combine lightweight construction and stability.
The designers dispensed with traditional exterior mirrors, opting instead for cameras positioned on the B-pillars and above the rear diffuser, among other places. The diffuser dominates the view from behind. Porsche Active Aerodynamics (PAA) enhance the aerodynamic properties with an active front wing and an extendable rear wing. This ensures optimal performance in every driving situation, whether the focus is on extending range or chasing lap times.
One special detail is the updated Porsche crest, which makes its debut on the Mission X. Brushed precious metal, a three-dimensional honeycomb structure, a refreshed heraldic beast and a more subtle gold colour – these are just a few of the careful modifications that distinguish the refined Porsche trademark from its immediate forerunner. With its much cleaner and more modern look, the reworked crest communicates the character of Porsche. It can be found on the front panel and steering wheel of the Mission X, as well as in a monochrome design on the wheel centres.
The Porsche light signature reinterpreted
The light signature is an elementary component of the Porsche brand identity. In the Mission X, the designers have reinterpreted the characteristic four-point graphic: The vertical base form of the headlights was inspired by historic racing cars such as the Porsche 906 and 908 and is drawn well down towards the road. A high-tech support structure frames the LED light modules and presents the exposed, narrow elements of the daytime driving lights and direction indicators. When activated, the light opens up like an eye blinking open. The headlights make a confident statement when fully illuminated.
A full-length light unit that seems to float in the air characterises the rear of the Mission X. A transparent, illuminated Porsche logo is a standout feature. The sculpted rear light emerges, as if suspended in mid-air, from a modern support structure and extends across the entire width of the vehicle in four segments. While charging, the ‘E’ in the Porsche logo pulsates, adding a sense of mystery. In a similar fashion, there is also a blinking light in the support structure of the rear light and headlight. Even in such details, the Mission X provides impetus for the further development of future vehicles.
