Technology talk: under the skin of the Porsche Mission R!

The stylish shell is still completely missing when development engineer and racing driver Lars Kern tests the future: the technology of the Mission R. It could become the basis of the first fully electric Porsche racing car for customer racing. At the beginning of September it was the eye-catcher at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Munich: the Mission R. The fully electric racing car is initially just a vision. An idea of ​​what the future design language could look like - shown on the concept car for a fully electric customer sports vehicle from Porsche.

Porsche mission r

The design - exterior and interior - fascinates, polarizes, is discussed. That's how it should be. Studies are market research on the property. Often these are just beautifully styled cases. Show cars without an engine, without technology under the skin. But the Mission R is already a powerful racing car. “That is the Porsche philosophy,” says Michael Behr. The technical project manager is responsible for orchestrating the trades involved in Mission R and keeping an eye on feasibility. "Of course, this prototype is initially a show car, but it also meets the highest technical standards."

Implementation of the Porsche strategy

The Porsche strategy with regard to sustainability and social responsibility was implemented under the presented shell. While the company already drives purely electrically in Formula E, uses synthetic fuels in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and is developing a new hybrid racing car for endurance racing, with the Mission R, customer racing is now also being designed electrically.

Porsche rarely shows such futuristic studies. But when it does, it often turns into a success story. Like the Boxster. His study was presented in Detroit in 1993. Or the Carrera GT: Walter Röhrl drove it in front of the Louvre in Paris in 2000. Then in 2010 the study of the 918 Spyder, this time it was in Geneva. The Taycan forerunner Mission E followed at the IAA in 2015. Behr was also on board with Mission E. “These are jobs with tight deadlines,” he admits, “but at the same time engineering dreams that start with a blank sheet of paper.” The Mission R has no role model. He is one.

Realistic depth of thought

For Porsche's requirements, it is not enough to just build a rollable chassis that then presents a vision to the design department. The Weissach spirit demands performance from studies as well. In the development process, every step in Computer Aided Design (CAD) is carried out with the same quality as if it were a pre-series vehicle.

The Mission R has all-wheel drive and 800 kW (1.088 PS). The power is provided by two electric motors. Manufactured in Zuffenhausen, as well as the single-speed gearbox. With a target weight of less than 1.500 kilograms, the athlete should manage the sprint from 0 to 100 km / h in less than 2,5 seconds. Depending on the choice of gear ratio, the top speed is over 300 km / h.

Direct cooling of the stator

Thanks to the direct cooling of the stator - the fixed element of the e-machine in which the rotor turns - the units deliver a particularly high continuous output. The futuristic racing car manages with a single oil cooling circuit and without a drop of water. The direct oil cooling of the high-voltage battery is based on an innovation that was developed for the three-time Le Mans winner Porsche 919 Hybrid. The chassis is also advanced racing technology and is characterized by a double wishbone front axle. Even a heated windscreen for good visibility in rain races has been thought of.

“At the same time, we tried to exploit the last possible lightweight construction potential in every detail,” explains Behr. Examples? A 3D-printed gear cover is 30 percent lighter than a cast one. Due to the additional braking power during recuperation, twelve kilograms could be saved on the braking system. The composite outer skin is not only light as a feather, but also sustainable: It consists mainly of natural fibers, supplemented by carbon fiber components.

Craftsmanship from Weissach

Weissach stands for excellent engineering, but also for craftsmanship. The chassis of the secret prototype was built in Flacht, in the racing department. He later moved to Building 100 within Weissach - a high-security wing under the Style Porsche studio. This is where the outer shape and the interior were created.

Between these stations, the visionary chassis has to get out into the fresh air - still without a protective body. For testing on the skidpad on the in-house test track. This first functional test, less than six months before the premiere at the IAA, is a key milestone. It does not matter that many components are still temporary at this point. A steel subframe is sufficient for the roll-out; the final composite cage has yet to be built. The seat, the steering wheel and the pedals are still parts of existing racing vehicles, the rims are still without the usual central lock.

What Lars Kern controls looks bare. He himself comparatively too - the colleagues around him are still wearing thick down jackets on this cold spring day. “There are definitely warmer working days,” recalls the development engineer with a laugh, “but also significantly worse ones. Being able to participate in such a project is absolutely emotional. I was as happy as a little child! ”Again and again he steers the raw device out onto the test track. A few sets of tires later, the brake balance between the front and rear axles will also fit. “What surprised me most was how far advanced the car was. And of course the enormous torque that starts immediately and the entire driving dynamics. Then I knew: Something is going to be created here that will be great fun. "

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Under the skin of the Mission R
Photo credit: Porsche

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