Porsche Mission E Electric Supercar heading for production to take on Tesla

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The Porsche Mission E electric supercar – previewed by a concept in Frankfurt – is heading for protection as Porsche invest €700 million in an electric future.

The Porsche Mission E Concept arrived at the Frankfurt Motor Show a couple of months ago previewing a possible future electric supercar. But that possible electric supercar has now become a reality, with Porsche revealing the Mission E will be built and on sale before the end of the decade.

Porsche are busy investing €700 million in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen – and creating 1,000 new jobs – with a new paint shop and assembly plant, an extended engine factory to churn out electric motors, as well as an enlargement of the existing bodyshop. Porsche will also invest more in its Weissach development centre.

Looking like a future Panamera, the Mission E we saw at Frankfurt is a four-door, four-seat electric supercar built on a new platform, with smooth body surfaces and powered by two electric motors – one for each axle – delivering 600bhp and capable of delivering the Mission E to 62mph in 3.5 seconds.

Porsche claim the car will have a range of over 300 miles, and its lithium ion batteries – integrated in the floor – can be charged through an 800-volt charger, or wirelessly, with Porsche claiming an 80 per cent charge in just 15 minutes. Which should do much to assuage range anxiety.

Dr Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Porsche Executive Board, said:

We are resolutely taking on the challenge of electric mobility. Even with solely battery-powered sports cars, Porsche is remaining true to its philosophy and offering our customers the sportiest and technologically most sophisticated model in this market segment.

If Porsche can deliver on the Mission E’s promise – a name unlikely to remain in the production car – it will be a real nail in the coffin of Tesla’s domination of the performance electric market.