Porsche's Mission E could challenge Tesla on price
Porsche has announced an all-electric production version of its 2015 Mission E concept car that could rival Tesla on price. The model is scheduled to go on sale at the end of 2019, with prices expected to start between $80,000 and $90,000. Speaking at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume said that the Mission E will be “very close” in appearance to the concept presented two years ago at the event. The car won’t be offered with any internal combustion engine assistance, unlike Porsche’s current range of hybrids.

While automakers have been not-so-quietly making promises to catch up to the likes of Tesla when it comes to electric vehicle range, a sports car maker may be the first to beat the startup at its own game. A production version of the 2015 Porsche Mission E electric concept is scheduled to go on sale at the end of 2019, with a price expected to start in the $80,000 - $90,000 range, according to CAR Magazine.

Speaking last week at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume says the Mission E will look “very close” to the concept presented two years ago at the show. Smaller than Porsche’s other four-door car, the Panamera, the company says it is intended to bridge the gap between that vehicle and the 911 sports car.

The Mission E won’t be offered with any internal combustion engine

That apparently means in performance terms, too. Unlike Porsche’s current range of hybrids the Mission E won’t be offered with any internal combustion engine assistance. And yet the concept promised a 0–60 time of less than 3.5 seconds and a top speed of around 155 mph through a dual-motor setup that also allows for all-wheel drive. While a Tesla Model S P100D may beat it off the the line in its most ludicrous of modes, the Porsche would ultimately keep up on an unrestricted stretch of Autobahn. Yet like Tesla, Blume says Porsche will offer the Mission E with different power levels, so your “basic” $90,000 version may not be quite as powerful.

Blume also didn’t rule out expanding the Mission E range to include other styles, which may include a coupe or wagon or SUV. Porsche may be known for sports cars, but its Cayenne SUV has been pretty successful over the years. And being part of the vast Volkswagen Group that has promised to electrify everything by 2030, a slew of electric-only Porsches by then wouldn’t be so surprising.