Stefan Weckbach, the head of electric vehicles at Porsche, devoted an interview to filling in more of the Mission E picture. The guiding principle behind the battery-powered four-door sports sedan with room for four people is to “deliver on the promises customers are familiar with from our conventionally powered vehicles.” The company’s hired more than 1,000 employees to work on combining future powertrains with modern detailing, so the Mission E buyer can expect thought-out details such as recesses built into the battery compartment and the floor to provide more legroom for backseat passengers.
Adherence to Porsche brand values also means what you see is what you get. Asked whether Porsche might create a simulated ICE sound to satisfy customers who miss the timbre of a flat-six or V-8, Weckbach said, “Porsche is unlikely to lower itself to gimmicks of this kind or use sound effects.” Any sound the Mission E makes will work to enhance the “emotional factor” of the car, and incorporate “a clear reference to the technology.”
When the interviewer asked Weckbach a question that invited a punch thrown Tesla’s way, Weckbach didn’t hold back. Referring to some Tesla products being able to run from 0 to 62 miles per hour in under 3 seconds, the Porsche exec said, “But only twice — the third attempt will fail. The system is throttled.” He added that “Porsche drivers won’t need to worry about that” because the Mission E’s being developed to deliver “reproducible performance and a top speed which can be maintained for long periods.”
Source: Autoblog
