Porsche Mission E electric car concept design video

The Porsche Mission E that debuted at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show isn't just another concept car.

It previews a production electric car Porsche plans to launch before the end of the decade.

Just like its powertrain, the Mission E's styling is quite different from that of today's Porsche production cars.

That was intentional, in order to make a statement about the car's electric powertrain, say some of the designers in a short video released by Porsche that explains some of the design process.

Like all new car designs, the Mission E started out as a series of sketches, and gradually gestated through scale models into the full-size concept unveiled in Frankfurt.

That car used powertrain components from the Porsche Boxster E to make it driveable, although likely only for the short distances that are typically demanded of concept cars.

Porsche Mission E Design

Porsche built a handful of Boxster E prototypes in 2011 to test electric powertrain components, but these were never available to the public.

The Boxster E components stood in for the actual Mission E powertrain, which produces 600 horsepower, according to Porsche.

It includes an electric motor for each axle, plus a lithium-ion battery pack of unspecified size that allows for a 310-mile range on the European testing cycle.

The European cycle is notoriously optimistic, so figure a 20 to 25-percent reduction on the U.S. EPA cycle.

An electric powertrain had some advantages in terms of styling, the designers said.

Because there is no engine in front, they were able to make the Mission E's front end very low, and didn't need to accommodate large air intakes.

Porsche Mission E concept, 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show

The car does have two vertical gutters below the headlights, which are part of an "air curtain" that channels air around the front wheels.

This helps lower drag, and a less-elaborate arrangement is even used on the Ford F-150 pickup truck.

In another nod to aerodynamics, the Mission E does away with protruding exterior mirrors, replacing them with cameras.

The four-seat Mission E also features rear-hinged "carriage doors" that designers claim allow easier access to the rear seats.

Those doors and the camera system may not make it to production, but the Mission E itself will.

Porsche confirmed in December that a production version is coming within three to five years, and announced plans to expand its main assembly plant in Zuffenhausen, Germany, to make that happen.

Porsche Turbocharges Boxster And Boxster S

Did you know that Porsche made mid-engine 4 cylinder race cars in the 50s and 60s? If not, you soon will. Those cars carried the designation “718”. Porsche is honoring those cars by adding a “718” badge to the rear of the new Boxster and Boxster S due in American showrooms in June.

What else is new for these cars? Each gets a turbocharged flat 4 engine — 2.0 liter in the Boxster and 2.5 liter in the Boxster S. According to AutoBlog, the Boxster engine produces 300 horsepower, which is 35 more than the engine in the current car. It also has 74 lb-ft more torque which helps propel it to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds — 0.7 less than before. The Boxster S engine also has 35 more horsepower but only 43 lb-ft more torque. It scoots to 60 in 4 seconds flat.

Despite the more powerful engines, both cars are about 13% more fuel efficient. The Boxster scores 34 mpg in the European test cycle while the Boxster S is rated at 32 mpg. EPA numbers are typically quite a bit lower but have not been released yet.

Cosmetically, both cars get a new face that is slightly more aggressive. Four point LED lights integrated with the headlights are optional. Along the sides, Porsche has enlarged the rear air intakes ahead of the rear wheels and added black strakes that blend into the doors. They are not quite as prominent as those on the Ferrari 348, but do give the cars a more menacing look. At the rear, the most prominent change is the addition of the numbers “718.”

The 718 Boxster is priced at $57,050. The 718 Boxster S begins at 69,450 for the S model. Both prices include destination charges. A 6 speed manual transmission is standard in both cars with an PDK dual clutch automatic available as an extra cost option. Porsche says it has given the electric steering system a more direct feel and incorporated subtle changes to the suspension. An optional active suspension package with variable dampers lowers the car by 4 tenths of an inch.

How many people will honor Porsche’s wishes and refer to their new cars as “my 718 Boxster” or “my 718 Boxster S”? The name change might make more sense if applied to a model more associated with racing. But in any event, a Boxster by any other name is still a Porsche. Now the only question is, will the Boxster get a hybrid or electric powertrain anytime soon?

An Electric Porsche? It Could Happen in 2015!

The Porsche hybrid 918 Spyder went into production last year thanks to the “outstanding customer response” for the $845,000 vehicle. Given Porsche’s interest in green speed, it comes as no surprise that in a recent interview with German magazine Auto, Motor und Sport, Porsche CEO Matthias Müller revealed his desire to launch an all-electric sports car. But can Porsche create a fast EV with a practical range?

We know that an all-electric Porsche will not be offered with an optional gas-burning range extender. Müller has stated that he believes a small engine needlessly adds weight. Instead, the proposed electric Porsche will rely on a battery pack big enough to provide a driving range of anywhere between 190 and 250 miles.

But Porsche wasn’t able to accomplish a range of that size three years ago. In 2011, the company built three experimental, all-electric Porsche Boxster E models, and entered them into a large-scale trial to study the feasibility of EV development. All three Boxster Es were slower than the average Porsche (which doesn’t necessarily mean they’re slow) and had a driving  range of “just” 107 miles. So Porsche, has some work to do if they want to deliver that 200-ish mile range.

Porsche may be able to learn a thing or two from sister companies Audi and Volkswagen, however. The first Audi e-tron concept debuted in 2009 was “a monster” with four electric motors which, together, produced an impressive 313 HP coupled with a jaw-dropping 3300 lb-ft of torque. And engineers and researchers were able to improve the battery pack, even going as far as to change the chemical makeup. The result is an Audi EV with close to 400 km, or 250 miles of driving range between charges.

Similarly, Volkswagen recently announced plans to work on a powerful new battery for its EV fleet. Speaking at the Geneva motor show, Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neusser said that “an 80kWh unit is under development using our own technology. It would provide between three and four times the battery power in a given package.” This means that a battery of equivalent physical size to that used in the new 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf could hold the amount of energy in a top-end Tesla Model S.

Of course, Müller did not provide a timeframe for when Porsche will decide if going all-electric is a wise business decision, but the company has to come up with something big to follow up the 919 Hybrid race car it showed at the 2014 Geneva Auto Show. Expect a “concept” version of an all-electric Porsche to bow at next year’s Frankfurt and Geneva shows, then.

Source | Photos: Left Lane News