Normally background music ruins driving videos. With the Mission E, that is not really the case. There simply isn’t much to listen to. Even with Mark Webber at the wheel the soundtrack coming from the car was little more than tire noise. With more than 600 horsepower on tap in its top form, the Mission E’s straight line performance was never in doubt. We are pleased to hear that Mr. Webber was also impressed by the Porsche’s dynamic abilities in cornering and under braking. While it is important for Porsche to develop electric cars, it is key that those vehicles retain Porsche’s other values.
Unfortunately, at just over two minutes, this video didn’t leave much room for in depth assessment. Mark notes that the electric sedan reminds him of both the 919 and 918, the former for its power under electric drive and the latter for the view out over the hood. Not bad comparisons for a large sedan.
The demonstrator car is a pre-production model, which is partially camouflaged and fitted with mismatched wheels. Styling has been toned down considerably from the original prototype, but don’t read too much into that as they could simply be testing the drivetrain. The styling is differentiated from the Panamera, with a more angular rear end and a lower roofline. The look closely follows the more conventional design seen on the Cross Turismo prototype. A pair of false exhaust tips are affixed to the rear valence, though unless the Porsche is playing an artificial soundtrack no one will be fooled into thinking this is an internal-combustion powered car.
While we still have some time before Mission Es come to dealers, it is encouraging to see one in Mark Webber’s hands. Hopefully the Mission E featured in the video is close to ready from a dynamic perspective. We’re certainly excited to see the final product.