Porsche Mission E Will Destroy The Tesla Model S At The Track

The Tesla may dominate at the drag strip, but the Porsche will own lap times.

As development continues on the upcoming production version of the all-electric Porsche Mission E concept, we know this so far: there are separate motors for the front and rear axles, and there’ll be a combined output of over 600 hp, 0-60 mph time of less than 3.5 seconds and the sprint to 124 mph will be in under 12 seconds. Do a quick comparison and you’ll see the Tesla Model S is faster in a straight line, meaning a drag race. On track, however, it’s a different story.

Car and Driver spoke with Joachim Kramer, Porsche’s director of power electronic for the Mission E, who not only confirmed the Mission E is being developed for optimal track day performance, but also that “The quick-charge cooling demand on the system is not higher than the demand when we go on a racetrack. That’s our development goal: to perform on the Nurburgring and other racetracks.” This will specifically be made possible thanks in part to a single liquid-cooling system designed regulate control and regulate temperatures. For example, the battery itself will not exceed 185 degrees Fahrenheit, but the motor itself will work just fine at far higher temperatures.

Even the air-conditioning compressor plays a part in regulating and cooling the systems during fast driving and even fast charging. In other words, Porsche understands that waiting several minutes for the battery to cool off in between track runs won’t be acceptable for many buyers. What’s the point of a track day if one is constantly being interrupted by their EV’s battery needing some cool off time? Porsche has clearly done its homework and this technological advancement will serve it well especially once its Formula E racing team gets into action next year.

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Electric Porsche 911 Packs A 700-HP Tesla Motor

Can’t wait for an all-electric Porsche 911 to arrive? This tuner has already built one.

Next year, the long-awaited Taycan will finally be revealed, Porsche’s first fully electric car that will take on the Tesla Model S. An all-electric Porsche 911 is also likely to be at least 10 years away. If you can’t wait until then, however, tuner Streetfighter LA has created its own fully electric Porsche.

Recently unveiled at the SEMA show in Las Vegas at the Toyo stand, the custom EV is based on a vintage 1977 Porsche 911 Coupe. Replacing the car’s fabled flat-six engine is a Tesla electric motor, resulting in a unique blend of classic styling and contemporary tech. While it sounds like an ambitious project, installing the powertrain wasn’t too difficult as it didn’t require any body or chassis modifications.

The electric motor uses most of the original mounting holes of the car and produces 700 hp at the crank and 563 hp at the wheels. Sadly, details about the battery pack powering the electric motors are unknown, as is the car’s performance specs – we’d love to know how quick this electric Porsche 911 is off the line in the sprint to 62 mph.

Purists may not like seeing a classic 911 have its flat-six swapped with a Tesla electric motor, but the exterior and interior look undeniably stunning. To help it stand out from the crowd, the classic 911 Coupe wears an aggressive widebody kit with bolt-on fender flares on all four corners. It's finished in gloss white and has also been fitted with adjustable suspension and BBS wheels.

Inside, the interior has features a mix of leather, Alcantara, and chrome, and has been fitted with a roll cage.

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German EVs Will Overtake Tesla By 2021

Tesla may dominate now, but its competitive edge may not last.

It isn't difficult to see why Tesla has been so dominant in the EV market. The Californian carmaker produces models with far longer range, more style, and nicer interiors than less expensive EVs. Although Tesla has been dominant in the market so far, this success may start to peter out as other luxury automakers start to introduce EVs. In fact, Bloomberg's Leonard Kehnscherper reports that Tesla could be overtaken by several automakers as soon as 2021.

BMW is working on next-generation electric models that will crush Tesla's current driving range. Likewise, the Porsche Taycan (formerly called the Mission E) should match Tesla on performance and style. A study conducted by PA Consulting shows that Tesla will remain the number one EV manufacturer in 2019, followed by the Renault-Nissan Alliance, BMW, Hyundai/Kia, Daimler, Volvo, and Volkswagen. By 2021, the study predicts that Tesla will be overtaken by Daimler, BMW, Renault-Nissan, Volkswagen, Volvo, and Toyota. As more automakers roll out EV models, Tesla is predicted to fall to seventh place while Daimler captures the lead.

The study doesn't just take sales into account, it also factors in strategy, battery technology, culture, supplier networks, partnerships, and financial performance. Tesla may be dominating in 2018, but it may lose its edge sooner rather than later.

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Porsche Investing Over $7 Billion Into EV Development To Tackle Tesla

Could this pose a serious threat to Tesla?

Porsche is taking the development of future EVs very seriously. So seriously, in fact, that the automaker has announced it’s investing more than six billion Euros ($7.4 billion) by 2022 into developing technology for plug-in hybrids and fully electric cars, doubling its previous electric mobility investment plan last year. The decision was made by the Porsche AG Supervisory Board at its most recent meeting. "We are doubling our expenditure on electromobility from around three billion euros to more than six billion euros," said Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board.

"Alongside development of our models with combustion engines, we are setting an important course for the future with this decision." Around 500 million euros of this investment will fund the development of the Mission E and variants of it. The Mission E will mark Porsche’s first foray into the luxury EV segment, which is expected to arrive in 2019 with prices starting at $75,000 to compete with the Tesla Model S. On a single charge, a recent early test drive revealed the Mission E delivers a 300-mile real world range and a top speed of 155 mph. Three models are expected: a 300 kW setup that makes 402 horsepower, a mid-range model with 400 kW batteries and 536 hp, and a 500 kW unit delivering 670 hp.

Porsche also says the Mission E has created around 1,200 jobs. As part of the investment, another one billion euros will be used to produce fully electric and hybrid versions of existing models like the upcoming plug-in hybrid 911, while several hundred million Euros will help Porsche expand its production facilities and around 700 million Euros will go towards developing new technologies, charging infrastructure and smart mobility. Porsche has also announced a joint venture with Audi, Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler and Ford to construct 400 rapid charging stations across the major European traffic routes by 2020. Porsche’s dealer network will also become part of the charging infrastructure.

So far, plug-in hybrids have proven successful for Porsche, with the flagship Turbo S E-Hybrid version of the Panemera making up 60 percent of the model’s sales in Europe. Now that more established manufacturers like Porsche and Mercedes-Benz are making major investments into EV development, Tesla’s reign could be under threat in the not-too distant future.

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5 Luxury Carmakers That Are Racing To Smash Tesla

Did anyone really think the competition wouldn’t arrive at some point?

Since 2013, Tesla has dominated the market and headlines for all-electric vehicles. That’s about to end. Tesla’s rivals spent these in-between years wisely by studying the Model S and Model X as well as the EV market as a whole. With that homework nearing completion, brands including Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, and Porsche are unleashing all-electric vehicles of their own. Although EV sales currently make up only a small percentage of new vehicle sales in the US, eventually that will change and automakers know they need to be prepared.

As is typically the case when it comes to new technologies, luxury cars will be the first to benefit. Sure, there are affordable EVs on sale right now, specifically the Chevrolet Bolt and Nissan Leaf, but those aforementioned premium brands will surely take EV tech to another level. In their eyes, they need to defeat Tesla. We compiled a list of all of the current and upcoming luxury EVs that will play big roles in the EV revolution that will have ramifications across the industry.

Audi

As part of the Volkswagen Group, Audi's financial resources are vast and, equally important, the German automaker wants to move on permanently from Dieselgate. Next month, the Audi e-tron crossover is set to debut. And even that event is not without some controversy. It was actually supposed to happen this month but was pushed back because Audi’s soon to be former CEO is sitting in jail due to his alleged Dieselgate role.

The e-tron crossover is a Q5-sized crossover packed full of cool technologies with a range of around 248 miles on a single charge. Total output will be around 402 hp. We also know Audi is working on the e-tron GT, due in 2020. It will be a four-door coupe that’ll take on the Tesla Model S and the also upcoming Porsche Taycan.

BMW

BMW’s i division hasn’t turned out exactly as the company initially planned. The i3 and i8 are great cars, but both have been overshadowed, in many aspects, by the rise of Tesla. As BMW debates the i8’s future, chances are the i3 will be dropped entirely, replaced by something more suited to the times. Come 2020, BMW will launch a new all-electric model based on the current X3 crossover, slated to be called iX3. And that’s just the beginning.

BMW is committed to launching 12 all-electric vehicles by 2025. One of those we just recently caught testing in spy images: an all-electric version of the next generation 3 Series sedan. We also just caught the 2019 all-electric Mini testing. Come 2021, BMW will debut its first EV built on an all-new electric powertrain. Billed as a Tesla rival, it’s said to have a range of over 370 miles and a 0-62 mph time of four seconds.

Mercedes-Benz

Not to be outdone by its German luxury rivals, Mercedes-Benz has serious EV plans of its own. The first example of this will be the EQ S, which we'll see two years from now. Think of it as a fully electrified S-Class, only far more advanced and built on a new modular platform that’ll underpin future EVs as well.

Unlike Audi and BMW, it appears that Mercedes wants its first EV-only model to be a four-door coupe instead of a crossover. The entire Mercedes EQ EV range will be in full force in only a few years from now, and will very likely include a production version of the EQ A hatchback concept previewed last year at Frankfurt.

Porsche

For a time, luxury car buyers interested in something new and trendy were attracted to the Porsche Panamera. But after Panamera buyers began switching to a Model S for the same reasons, Porsche was quick to understand the threat Tesla posed. The German carmaker quickly got to work and we were soon introduced to the Mission E Concept, which heavily previewed a production version.

That car will officially be called Taycan when it debuts for the 2020 model year. Rumor also has it that an electric version of the hot-selling Macan is also in the works. The Taycan will also likely be spun off into at least one variant, a production version of the Mission E Cross Turismo. Eventually, there’ll be a fully-electric 911 but not before a hybrid and/or plug-in hybrid version launches.

Jaguar

When we sat down with Jaguar last fall at the Frankfurt Motor Show, a project manager engineer admitted to us that the I-Pace crossover was not planned to be a crossover during initial planning stages. The goal was simply to build the best EV possible. As the design and engineering teams dug in, the realization came that a crossover EV would be most suitable for the times.

It was a big bet that appears to be paying off. The Jaguar I-Pace is now on sale and, to date, is the only direct rival to the Tesla Model X. And like the Model X, the I-Pace isn’t cheap. Pricing begins at $69,500 in the US. In typical Jaguar form, the I-Pace is a stunning vehicle inside and out, making it worthy of that hefty price tag. Its platform is also flexible to accommodate additional future EVs, but Jaguar has been mum on details. Chances are, the XJ sedan’s successor will be an EV, conveniently enough a Model S rival.

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Electric Porsche 911 Packs A 700-HP Tesla Motor

Can’t wait for an all-electric Porsche 911 to arrive? This tuner has already built one.

Next year, the long-awaited Taycan will finally be revealed, Porsche’s first fully electric car that will take on the Tesla Model S. An all-electric Porsche 911 is also likely to be at least 10 years away. If you can’t wait until then, however, tuner Streetfighter LA has created its own fully electric Porsche.

Recently unveiled at the SEMA show in Las Vegas at the Toyo stand, the custom EV is based on a vintage 1977 Porsche 911 Coupe. Replacing the car’s fabled flat-six engine is a Tesla electric motor, resulting in a unique blend of classic styling and contemporary tech. While it sounds like an ambitious project, installing the powertrain wasn’t too difficult as it didn’t require any body or chassis modifications.

The electric motor uses most of the original mounting holes of the car and produces 700 hp at the crank and 563 hp at the wheels. Sadly, details about the battery pack powering the electric motors are unknown, as is the car’s performance specs – we’d love to know how quick this electric Porsche 911 is off the line in the sprint to 62 mph.

Purists may not like seeing a classic 911 have its flat-six swapped with a Tesla electric motor, but the exterior and interior look undeniably stunning. To help it stand out from the crowd, the classic 911 Coupe wears an aggressive widebody kit with bolt-on fender flares on all four corners. It's finished in gloss white and has also been fitted with adjustable suspension and BBS wheels.

Inside, the interior has features a mix of leather, Alcantara, and chrome, and has been fitted with a roll cage.

View the original article here

Faraday Future Is One Company Tesla Need Not Fear

The EV startup is burning through cash and leaving vendors high and dry.

Late last year Faraday Future was facing imminent closure, its finances were dwindling, employees weren’t turning up for work and founding members were abandoning ship. Then the company’s controversial chief investor and now CEO, Jia Yueting, managed to secure an $800 million investment from Chinese Real Estate group, Evergrande.

The deal came with some harsh conditions which had Faraday Future giving away its intellectual property as well as some of its assets. Despite this, it seemed that Faraday indeed had a future, and up until very recently, the long-awaited FF91 EV seemed to be finally nearing production status. The Detroit Bureau has now unearthed a very different reality, one that seems rather similar to last year’s dilemma.

It appears that Evergrande has filed a complaint with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange accusing Jia Yueting of not honoring the deal that they had made in January. The issue seems to be that whereas Evergrande committed to and paid the $800 million investment, Jia Yueting claims that they are also supposed to inject another $700 million into Faraday Future come January 2019, something he desperately needs as the initial investment has already been spent.

Suppliers are not being paid and some have started procedures to reclaim what they can. Jia is no stranger to controversy as he was accused of creating a $75 million trust fund for his kids by using money intended for the FF91. He has also refused to return to China where he is wanted for questioning by the Chinese Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) for debts owed by him to both FF and his tech firm LeEco.

Amidst all this chaos, the FF91 EV meanwhile has become a sideshow instead of the main event. Rival EVs from both established firms like Tesla and imminent arrivals from BMW, Porsche and Mercedes will only make it harder for this new model to gain traction in its segment.

Yueting once again seems to have been partly to blame, continuously interfering with the design and development process and expanding the company’s production targets to seemingly impossible levels, delaying the finalization of the potentially game-changing EV.

The single working FF91 apparently caught fire in front of Faraday Future employees when it was shown to them in September. Clearly, there are some serious issues that need to be resolved if this car, dubbed the 'Tesla Fighter,' is ever to get anywhere near to production status.

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Porsche Taycan Promises Charging Times Twice As Fast As Tesla

Ground won't be the only thing that Porsche's EV will cover quickly.

Porsche is no stranger to speed, producing as it has (and still does) some of the fastest cars ever to hit the road or track. And now it's after another crown in the realm of speed, but this time it's not for the pace with which its cars cover ground. This time it's for charging times.

Speaking with Fortune at the Rennsport Reunion last weekend, Porsche's US chief Klaus Zellmer said its forthcoming Taycan electric sports car will be able to quick-charge to 80 percent of its battery's capacity in just 15 minutes.

That's “almost the same time if you fill up your gas tank and have a cup of coffee,” said Zellmer. More to the point, though – and in true Porsche style – it's much faster than the competition. As Fortune points out, Teslas take nearly half an hour to achieve the same charge. And Jaguar's new I-Pace takes 45 minutes.

“It doesn’t make any sense to drive fast and then wait two hours to charge batteries,” added Porsche's sales and marketing chief Detlev von Platen. That's why it's pursuing quicker charging times.

The German automaker is no stranger to charging its vehicles' batteries, having already produced plug-in hybrids like the 918 Spyder and E-Hybrid versions of its Panamera and Cayenne models. But the Taycan will be its first completely electric vehicle.

Stemming from the Mission E project (pictured), the Porsche Taycan is slated to pack over 600 horsepower worth of electric power, sending it rocketing to 60 in under 3.5 seconds. It's anticipated to launch in 2020, after which we can expect additional battery-powered vehicles to come rolling out of Zuffenhausen in the coming years.

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Here's Proof Porsche Taycan Is Being Benchmarked Against Tesla Model S

Just watch this video.

Last March, when the Porsche Taycan was still being referred to as the Mission E, Porsche CEO Oliver Blume stated that “Tesla is not a benchmark for us.” Well, that’s not exactly accurate. How do we know? Here’s proof, thanks to the folks at Taycan Forum. This recently filmed spy video shows not one, but two Taycan advanced prototypes testing with a Tesla Model S P85D on Italy’s famed Stelvio Pass. No benchmarking, right Oliver?

Can’t say we’re in the least bit surprised, but why did Blume even state that in the first place? The most likely answer is that Porsche wants the Taycan to be seen as a Porsche first and an EV second.

Porsche also probably doesn’t want to admit it’s being forced to benchmark against what many consider to be a California-based startup that has no business being in the car business. Tesla doesn’t play by the so-called industry rules and established brands don’t like that.

Also interesting to point out here is that the Model S in question is not the most powerful trim you can buy today. That would be the P100D, which can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds and has a 315-mile range per charge. The P85D had a 253-mile range a 3.2-second sprint to 60. Shouldn’t Porsche be benchmarking the top trim Model S? It surely is, but these Taycan test mules could themselves be lower trims.

Set to go on sale for 2020, the Taycan will be the first all-electric Porsche; more will come soon. But even if the Taycan initially outperforms the Model S in every major category for all trims, we need to take another factor into account: a major Model S update is planned for some time in 2019 or 2020.

Early reports suggest this update will mainly focus on the interior, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see exterior styling changes as well. Will Porsche’s benchmarking that’s not really benchmarking ultimately pay off? We’ll find out next year.

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