Porsche Mission E Cross likely to be brand's second EV

GENEVA -- Porsche is bullish about the future of its full-electric Mission E Cross Turismo study that debuted at the auto show here this week. “I find the unique concept and the design instantly convincing. In my opinion there's a good prospect for series production very soon,” Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said.

Based on Porsche's J1 architecture, the shooting brake/SUV model would be Porsche's second electric vehicle and first derivative of the Mission E four-door fastback, due to go on sale next year.

Sources at the company say the Cross Turismo could come as early as 2021. A two-year gap between the fastback and the crossover styled four-door would help ensure the new factory hall in Zuffenhausen maintains a minimum output to protect contribution margins.

“We want to ensure utilization rate doesn’t trail off as the Mission E gets older, so we will bring a derivative just as we do with other model lines,” one senior executive told Automotive News Europe.

Roughly matching the Cayenne in length at 4950mm, the all-wheel-drive concept has the same 800-volt electrical wiring as the Mission E. This means a customer only needs about 15 minutes to recharge the lithium-ion battery to 80 percent.

The Mission E Cross Turismo has a 500 km (300 miles) range under the NEDC test cycle, Porsche said.

The concept's electric energy is routed to two permanent magnet synchronous motors with a total system output equivalent to more than 591 hp. This accelerates the car from 0-100 kph (62 mph) in less than 3.5 seconds and allows the vehicle to reach a speed of 200 kph in less than 12 seconds.

“Multiple accelerations are possible in direct succession without loss of performance,” Porsche said.

The concept's design features a sloping roof familiar from the Panamera Sport Turismo wagon. It has off-road elements including pronounced wheel arch protection and door sills as well as a striking front spoiler and increased ground clearance

Designers also added some more subtle touches. During charging, the ‘E’ in the Porsche logo pulsates, and the circuit board is brought to life by pulses of light, the company said.

“The key for the Panamera Sport Turismo was versatility. In the case of the Mission E Cross Turismo, the focus was more on this combination of different vehicle characteristics,” Porsche chief designer Michael Mauer said. "Take this car in the morning to the meeting in the city, and in the evening you go to your chalet in the Swiss mountains.”

The Mission E Cross Turismo, which Porsche said is “road ready,” is aimed at people who like to spend their free time traveling, engaging in sports or pursuing other outdoor activities. The flexible interior creates space for all kinds of bulky athletic equipment like skis or surfboards.