Porsche Just Unveiled Its Next Supercar, the Mission S Concept
At long last, Porsche‘s next supercar is finally here.
The famed German marque unveiled the eagerly anticipated Mission S on Thursday afternoon in New York City. The stunning concept previews a future production model that, to quote the social media post that first teased its existence, is meant to be Porsche’s “love letter to the sports car.”
Few automakers can claim a roster of sports cars as deep and legacy-rich as that of Porsche. Of the dozens of vehicles to bear the marque’s famous crest over the decades, none is more beloved than the 911, which hasn’t gone out of production since its introduction in 1964. While no one will ever question its status as the most iconic Porsche of them all, there have been several periods since the 1980s when it didn’t sit atop the marque’s lineup.
In 1985, the brand released the high-tech 959, which for a moment in time was the world’s fastest car. It was followed, less than a decade later, by the 911 GT1 Straßenversion, which, while a 911 in name, was the street-legal version of the company’s mid-1990s Le Mans racer. The automaker didn’t leave its supercar ambitions behind in the 20th century, either. The first decade of the new millennium saw the release of the Carrera GT, a car viewed by some as one of the last great analog performance vehicles. It was followed, in 2013, by the 918 Spyder—a low-slung speed machine that helped redefine what a plug-in hybrid could be.
The new Porsche Mission S supercar.
Porsche
Now, there’s a new model to add to that list, or at least a preview of what it will be. The supercar that the automaker unveiled on Thursday is also the first vehicle to come from the pen of its new head of design, Tobias Sühlmann. The concept looks fresh and modern, but also unmistakably like a Porsche. It features round headlights, such as those found on the 911, a flat front similar to that of the GT1, and a roofline that calls to mind the 959. An emphasis has also been placed on maintaining clean lines, something that can be seen in the wraparound quality of the front and rear lights. Rounding things out is an all-new set of lightweight wheels inspired by the “dial design” look of the 928’s rims.
“A Porsche must be recognizable as a Porsche at first glance,” C.E.O. Michael Leiters said in a statement. “The Mission S provides a glimpse of the ideas and design features that will shape Porsche in the coming years.”
The clean lines also carry over to the interior of the concept. The cabin calls to mind both the manufacturer’s first race car, the 550 Spyder, and the 356, and is meant to create a sense of being “deep within the car” for the driver. The minimalism of the space gives it an almost timeless feel. And yes, there are digital displays, but they are relatively small and come accompanied by physical buttons and switches.
We now have an idea of what Porsche’s next supercar will look like, but we’re still waiting on the mechanical details. Leiters confirmed at last week’s Capital Markets Day event that it will have a mid-engine configuration, as did the Carrera GT and 918 Spyder before it. The platform that it will be built on will also be brand new, but that is all we know at this point. Last month, German automotive newspaper Handelsblatt reported that the production version of the Mission S would be the first road-going Porsche to feature a flat-eight engine. At the time, a representative for Porsche told Robb Report that “we can’t speculate or comment on potential future product.”
We’re also waiting to find out when the supercar will be available. We do know that it won’t be a one-off or even a few-off, though. Porsche has said the new model will be a “permanent” addition to its lineup, and will be positioned above the 911 going forward.
Click here to see more photos of the Porsche Mission S concept.
Porsche
