Mission R

07/9/2021

Mission R: Visionary outlook with Porsche DNA

With the Mission E (2015) and Mission E Cross Turismo (2018), Porsche presented unmistakable previews of its first all-electric sports car model series to come. Both visually and technologically, the Porsche Taycan sports saloon (2019) and the Taycan Cross Turismo cross-utility vehicle (2021) closely resembled the two concept studies and have since been launched successfully on the world markets – mission accomplished in other words. The next vision has now arrived with the Porsche Mission R: with this study of an all-electric GT racing car, the pioneer of sustainable mobility is revealing what customer motorsports could look like in the future. 

"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," says Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG. "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.“

Performance: on a par with the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

The electric all-wheel drive delivering over 800 kW (1,088 PS) in so-called qualifying mode takes the Mission R to a top speed of more than 300 km/h. The power output remains constant, so there is no thermally induced derating – a major benefit of using the electric motors with direct oil cooling developed at Porsche. The electric motor on the front axle develops as much as 320 kW (435 PS) in racing mode, while the motor on the rear axle produces a maximum of 480 kW (653 PS). The all-electric racing car, which weighs in at around 1,500 kilograms, accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in less than 2.5 seconds.

Design: unique "exoskeleton" cage structure and driver cell doubles as a simulator

"Every Porsche has to be clearly recognisable as a Porsche. Many elements that we envisage in studies find their way later into production cars. This also applies to motorsports. Moreover, our customer sports vehicles are always based on production sports cars," explains Michael Mauer, Head of Style Porsche. "What this means in the case of the Mission R is that the car is packed to the gills with signs that hint of a future production model, and that, of course, means: pure racing! “

The Mission R features the typical racing design of the marque and is future driven at the same time. At first glance, the extreme compactness is very apparent: it has a length of 4,326 millimetres and a width of 1,990 millimetres. Typical of racing cars, the electric racer sits very low on the road (height: 1,190 millimetres). The wheelbase: 2,560 millimetres. The narrowly shaped cabin reduces the frontal area of the racing car and contributes to the outstanding e-performance due to the lower air resistance.

The exoskeleton is the name Porsche engineers and designers have given the Mission R's eye-catching carbon cage. The carbon fibre composite cage structure combines high protection potential for the driver with low weight and a distinctive look.

The protective structure forms the roof section and is visible from the outside. Like a half-timbered construction, it provides a framework around six transparent segments made of polycarbonate. This means that racing drivers can now enjoy a new feeling of generous space. There are also some transparent surfaces, including a removable escape hatch for the driver, which is based on the FIA requirements for racing vehicles used in international competitions.

Genuine motorsports and esports merge in the Mission R. This is due to its monocoque type driver cell that is designed as a self-contained module and can be used in exactly the same form outside the vehicle as a simulator. This allows the racing driver to prepare for his next race virtually in a familiar environment. It also means that the racing drivers of tomorrow can also take part in esports events.

The seat, steering wheel, controls, adjustable pedals and screens form a compact unit and lie along the same axis. The full bucket seat offers high protection potential for the driver. It also has an innovative design and is produced in part using additive manufacturing processes as a so-called 3D-printed bodyform full bucket seat. The upholstery is created in a computer-controlled 3D knitting process that minimises fabric waste in production.

Sustainability: innovative natural fibres and highly efficient electric motors

"As a car manufacturer, Porsche aims to achieve a CO2 neutral balance sheet overall by 2030. This means that a low carbon footprint, closed-loop recycling and sustainability are increasingly becoming the prime focus," explains Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche AG. "Motorsports of the future will be more electric, more digital and more connected. And it must become more sustainable.“

Many of the Mission R's add-on parts are made of natural fibre reinforced plastic (NFRP), the basic material of which is made from flax fibres obtained from farming. In the production of the renewable fibre, 85 per cent less CO2 is generated than is the case when producing carbon fibre. The natural fibre material is visible on the side skirts and diffuser, and is also used in the interior – such as the seat shell, for example.

With the Mission R, Porsche is presenting a preview of the next generation of electric motors. Back in 2018, a team of Porsche engineers and technicians from Zuffenhausen and Weissach began developing extremely powerful and highly efficient electric motors.

The most important innovation of these permanently excited synchronous machines (PESM) is the direct oil cooling of the stator, which enables very high peak and continuous power output levels to be achieved, in addition to delivering a very high level of efficiency. While in conventional electrical machines the cooling fluid flows through a jacket outside the stator, in the case of direct cooling, the oil flows directly along the copper windings. This allows more heat to be dissipated directly at source. In addition, the slots in the stator can be made smaller, which leads to greater efficiency in real driving cycles. An innovative stator seal is used to prevent the coolant from entering the rotor chamber.

The capacity of the battery, which also incorporates high-end cells and direct oil cooling, is designed for sprint racing. Thanks to 900-volt technology and fast-charging capability, it is possible to charge the battery from 5 to 80 per cent SoC (State of Charge) in about 15 minutes during a break from racing.

If you would like to learn more about Mission R, please contact the team at info@porschenewcastle.co.uk for more information.