Video: Mark Webber Drives The Porsche Mission E Around Weissach

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Porsche is leaving no stones unturned to ensure that its new Mission E super sedan turns out to be as good as every other Porsche that leaves the factory. The company invited Mark Webber to its Weissach test track in Germany and handed him the keys to a Mission E early prototype.

The Porsche Mission E has been a long time in development. The Stuttgart-based automaker is putting it through its paces in testing phase, and let Mark Webber in on the project. Former Formula one driver Mark Webber raced for Porsche in the 919 Hybrid at the prestigious 24 Hours Of Le Mans (2015 season) and brought in third place for the motorsports division. He retired i 2016 from motorsports and Porsche lapped him up as a brand representative. That translates to job perks like early access to big projects like the tasty Mission E.

The Porsche Mission E is an all-electric sedan due for a 2019 release. It is powered by two electric motors that produce a combined 600hp. Driving all four wheels, the motors propel the car to 100 kph under 3.5 seconds. Considering this is an electric car that has to lug tis batteries around everywhere, the Mission E records impressive performance numbers. Additionally, Porsche claims a maximum range of almost 500 km on a single charge, which lends perspective to how intelligently packaged this car is going to be.

Mark Webber pushed the car around Porsche’s Weissach test track which is just 2.5 km long but has tight corners. The track showed the handling prowess of the Mission E, belying its hefty kerb weight. Here’s what Webber had to say about the car: “The gorgeous view from inside the cockpit over the front wheel arches is pure 918 and the way the four-wheel drive system puts its 600 hp down simply sensational,” said Webber. “I thought that the Mission E could feel a little heavy but the driving experience is seriously dynamic; the four-wheel steering, the performance, and the braking ability were a really amazing experience. I’ve driven lots of cars over the years that I’ve fallen for but the Mission E really stands out. I’m looking forward to driving it a lot more in the future.”

After seeing what the Mission E is capable of in the right hands, we sure are excited for the bonkers electric car. Expect Porsche to commence production sometime in 2019.