Porsche has unveiled its Mission S concept, a mid-engined supercar that will sit above the 911 in the company’s lineup. According to local reports, the concept will be built and will be petrol-powered.
The Mission S concept was unveiled in New York, and it’s the first vision for a future Porsche supercar from the company’s new head of design, Tobias Sühlmann. The concept’s technical specifications are still vague, but it’s known that it won’t be a completely new platform, instead pulling together various elements from other models.
The material mix for the production version is not confirmed, but R&D boss Michael Steiner thinks it will likely be a mix of materials, including alloy and carbon. The concept features an analogue rev counter and a unique dial system that moves depending on the drive mode.
Design and Engineering
The Mission S concept has a distinct design, blending nods to Porsche’s heritage with a clear view forward. Sühlmann explains that the goal is to acknowledge the past while moving into the future. The car features a soft, sculptural surface with precise architectural graphics, creating a sense of tension.
In person, the car looks low and long, but still compact, with an inherent Porsche-ness about its footprint. Sühlmann deliberately aimed for a light touch, wanting the car to feel like it’s made for driving, rather than dominating the road.
The concept‘s design philosophy emphasizes clean lines and functionality, with every detail having a specific purpose. Sühlmann believes that car designers should be more than just stylists, and that every shut line and detail should have a function.
Production and Positioning
Porsche has confirmed that the Mission S concept will be built, and it will be a production-series supercar, rather than a limited-run hypercar. The company is positioning the Mission S above the 911, and it’s expected to be a more attainable car than some of Porsche’s other recent concepts.
The possibility of a flat-eight engine is intriguing, and while Porsche has resisted flat-eights in the past due to weight concerns, the mid-engined design of the Mission S could negate this issue. Ruf is currently working on a flat-eight engine, and the company has a close relationship with Porsche, making it a potential option.
The Mission S concept is his first statement, and it will be interesting to see how this philosophy translates into engineering realities.
Active aero will be an important aspect of the Mission S, and Sühlmann believes that a base car can be a beautiful sculpture. They are aiming to create a car that is both functional and visually stunning, with every detail having a specific purpose.