Porsche Presenting Its Future-Driven Concept, An All-Electric Sports Racing Car: The Mission R

Porsche has presented a spectacular look into the automotive future at the IAA Mobility in Munich, a true quintessence of passion for racing, the Mission R concept car. 

Blending state-of-the-art technologies and sustainable materials, this all-electric competition car portrays a progressive design resembling the sports cars from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen.

Porsche AG’s executive board chairman, Oliver Blume said, "Porsche is the brand for people who fulfil their dreams. This is also true in motorsports. We experience our innovative strength on the race track, demonstrate courage in pursuing new avenues and delight car owners with sporting performance. In addition to our involvement in the Formula E World Championship, we are now taking the next big step forward in electric mobility. The concept study is our vision of all-electric customer motorsports. The Mission R embodies everything that makes Porsche strong: performance, design and sustainability."

Apart from hinting at an insight into what the future of one-make series with all-electric cars could look like, the Mission R with its performance setup, makes sprint racing possible with no loss of output. 

This is all possible thanks to the two newly designed electric motors and battery cells with a capacity of up to 80 kWh, which is equipped with innovative direct oil cooling.

Powered with an all-wheel-drive system, it delivers 800 kW (1,088 PS) in qualifying mode and surges from 0 to 100 km/h in under 2.5 seconds while hitting a top speed of over 300 km/h.

Alternatively, the Porsche Mission R concept study is able to produce a constant power output of 500 kW (680 PS) in race mode.

Breaking it down, an electric motor with up to 320 kW (435 PS) powers the front axle, while a maximum of 480 kW (653 PS) is delivered to the rear. 

Fitted with the advanced 900-volt tech and Porsche Turbo Charging, it takes only 15 minutes to charge from 5 to 80 percent SoC (state of charge), and charging can take place with up to 340 kW.

Moreover, the so-called derating, i.e., power output reduction of the battery due to thermal conditions, has been eliminated. 

In addition to the innovative drive concept, the body of the Mission R concept racer also focuses on CO2 reduction and sustainability.

First off, it features a further development of Porsche Active Aerodynamics (PAA) with Drag Reduction System (DRS) on the nose section and rear wing. 

Case in point, it comprises three louvres in each of the two side air intakes on the nose section and an adjustable, two-section rear wing.

Other than that, it is also made mainly of Natural Fibre Reinforced Plastic (NFRP), the primary material made from flax fibres obtained from farming. 

Said ecological material is also used for the front spoiler lip, the diffuser and the side skirts, as well as extensively in the interior, such as the door panels, the rear bulkhead and the seat.

Speaking of which, the interior is made to suit the driver, meaning the overall layout of the cockpit is ingeniously driver-oriented.

For instance, an ergonomically placed display between the controls on the steering wheel shows relevant data during the race. 

The monitor above the steering column shows the images from the side mirror cameras and the central rear-view mirror camera.

Then, a touch display to the right of the seat can be used to call up the driver's biometric data along with other cameras in the interior that can provide exciting sequences for a live stream transmission.

Interestingly, Porsche is bringing authentic and virtual racing closer together than ever before, i.e., the monocoque driver's module in exactly the same form that also doubles as an esports simulator. 

Also, the safety structure made of carbon fibre composite material combines high protection potential for the driver with low weight and a distinctive look. 

That’s not all, Porsche engineers and designers have named the newly developed carbon fibre roof structure the ‘exoskeleton’, which combines a safety cage and roof skin. 

Evidently, at 4,326 mm in length, the Mission R is slightly shorter than the current 718 Cayman series but is noticeably wider at 1,990 mm and significantly lower in height at 1,190 mm.

To sum up, presented in the guises of the Taycan sports saloon (2019) and the Taycan Cross Turismo (2021), the Mission E (2015) and Mission E Cross Turismo (2018) concepts have given unmistakeable previews of Porsche’s first all-electric sports car model series to come. 

Now, with the Porsche Mission R concept racer, the company is further presenting its vision of what customer motorsports will look like in the future.