Porsche Reveals Mission X Concept; Previews 918’s Successor

If you’ve wondered what the future of the hypercar from Porsche was, well, think no more. The 918’s Successor is here and though it’s a concept just now, we totally see this going into production. It’s called the Mission X and it’s a spectacular reinterpretation of a hypercar, with Le Mans-style doors that open upwards to the front and a high-performance, efficient electric powertrain.

The Mission X is a dramatic-looking two-seater and measures in at 4500 in length. It’s 2000 mm wide and it has a wheelbase of 2730 mm. Now these dimensions are similar to the 918 Spyder (is that a hint?). For aerodynamic purposes, the concept car has mixed-size tyres, with 20-inch wheels at the front and 21-inch wheels at the rear.

The low-slung bodywork, which is less than 1200mm tall, is finished in Rocket Metallic – an elegant paint colour specially designed for the concept study. Design elements in a carbon-weave finish are found below the beltline. These components are varnished in a satin finish and are therefore slightly coloured, but their material structure remains recognisable.

The wheels of the concept study feature elaborate details: the rear axle is fitted with almost transparent aeroblades, which are designed like turbines for better cooling of the brakes.

A lightweight glass dome with an exoskeleton made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic extends over both occupants. The Le Mans-style doors are attached to the A-pillar and the roof; they open forwards and upwards. This type of door was previously used on the legendary Porsche 917 racing car.

But visually, what truly attracts your attention are the light features. The vertical base form of the headlights was inspired by historic racing cars such as the Porsche 906 and 908 and drawn well down towards the road. A high-tech support structure frames the LED light modules and presents the exposed narrow elements of daytime running lights and indicators. When activated, the light opens up like an eye blinking open. Fully illuminated, the headlights make a confident statement.

The driver focus can be seen in the asymmetry of the interior and its colour concept. The two seats are coloured differently. Apart from the leather pads in Andalusia Brown, the driver’s seat is Kalahari Grey and forms a single unit of colour with the centre console and the dashboard. The passenger seat is in the contrasting Andalusia Brown shade. Beyond the CFRP seat shells, and their six-point seatbelts integrated into the monocoque, further motorsport parallels include the open-top steering wheel, which has mode switches and shift paddles. There are multiple cameras on board. Recording starts as soon as the driver presses the Record button (REC) on the multi-purpose controller.

The MissionX gets a 900-volt system and the battery is installed centrally behind the vehicle’s seats. This ‘e-core layout’ centres the mass in the car. We wait to see when the company plans to bring the production version out.