Watch: Driving the Electric Porsche SUV That Could Beat Tesla

In the battle to gain territory in the EV space, Porsche is bringing out the Taycan sports car in 2019. And it’s also considering a vehicle that would capitalize on the burgeoning popularity of crossovers. Motor Trend testing director Kim Reynolds recently drove a prototype version to see if such a vehicle has the potential for series production.

The sleek prototype, dubbed the Mission E Cross Turismo, runs purely on electricity. In production form, the SUV is estimated to hit 62 mph in under 3.5 seconds. That is achieved with the help of two motors that produce a total of around 600 hp. There is also a 90-kilowatt-hour battery that sits under the floor. In the video above, Porsche product development boss Stefan Weckbach rides shotgun and talks with Reynolds about the crossover’s role in the brand’s new EV lineup.

Because it’s a prototype, it’s not quite up to spec with what a production version would offer. In a recent review, Reynolds wrote, “This is a brittle test mule. Nonetheless, it’s packed with promising clues. Its lateral torque vectoring, Model S­–like center of gravity, and 911-ish four-wheel steering give it a responsiveness to steering inputs that’s more like a giant shifter kart than a chunky-tire all-terrainer; despite the extra pounds and missing horsepower, my moments of acceleration are smile-stretching previews of coming rail-gun attractions.”

This model is just one of many EVs that will threaten Tesla’s dominance in the coming years, should Porsche choose to build it. Watch the video above to hear more of Reynolds’ thoughts and whether or not he thinks it should come to market.

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