From the looks of the concept, that R is well earned. The Mission R concept boasts an output of 1073 electric horsepower, a 0-60 time of 2.5 seconds, and a limited top speed of 186 mph. The concept manages a moderate weight of 3307 pounds; heavy by race car standards but a featherweight by EV standards. It achieves this weight using a composite of natural-fiber reinforced plastic, a green alternative to the traditional carbon-fibre reinforced plastics used in race cars. Add all this together and Porsche claims the Mission R will achieve the same lap time as the current GT3 Cup. It is as unmistakably a race car as the GT3 Cup in its appearance. The Porsche Active Aerodynamics with Drag Reduction System (DRS) makes itself known with louvres, intakes, and a large adjustable rear wing. Strategically reducing drag is crucial in squeezing out every last mile of range in the Mission R, and that function can be seen in the form of this beautiful design.

The only catch of course, is that aforementioned range. While a 911 GT3 can confidently go around a circuit for 24 hours at full attack, the Mission R is only capable of 25 to 40 miles of range at full go. With 340kW charging, the Mission R is capable of an 80% charge in just 15 minutes. While such a vehicle would not be competitive against a gas car in a traditional race, a one-make series consisting of Mission R’s under the same charging constraints could be possible. Porsche has indicated that the Mission R represents the possibility of such a series being a future possibility. Porsche’s current factory series is known as the Carrera Cup, and consists of customer purchased 911 Carrera Cup cars being raced in different global regions. Porsche Centre Langley has long been a customer for these cars, racing in the Carrera Cup locally and abroad. If something like the Mission R were to exist for a one-make series, there is a possibility of such a car finding its way to Langley.

Like all concepts, the Mission R provided us with a lot of excitement and a lot of guesses about what lies in the future. Porsche has simply stated, “The concept study is our vision of all-electric customer motorsports”. The most important takeaway from this study is seeing how much excitement the unveiling of an electric vehicle was able to generate from the automotive world. With thoughts of an electric 718 taking on a similar form, and the ability to go racing in a sustainable way; we are excited for what’s next. The future may be electric, but it surely won’t be boring.