Connect with us

News

Porsche looks to take on Tesla Model X, Jaguar I-PACE with all-electric SUV

(Photo: Porsche)

Published

on

With companies like Tesla opening the path for other carmakers to make the jump towards full electrification, several noteworthy electric vehicles from the auto industry’s prominent players are expected to be released in the next few years. Among these is a vehicle that Porsche is working on — an all-electric SUV aimed at competing with the likes of the Tesla Model X and Jaguar I-PACE.

Porsche already has electric cars in its pipeline. This year, the company expects to release the Taycan, a premium high-performance sedan that will compete in the same market as the Tesla Model S. The Taycan would not be Porsche’s only electric car for long, though, as CEO Olliver Blume noted that the company had already greenlighted the production of the Mission E Cross Turismo. The Cross Turismo is based on the Taycan, though the vehicle is configured with higher ground clearance and wheels that can handle unpaved roads.

As noted by UK-based WhatCar though, Porsche is also looking to release another all-electric SUV around 2022. Just like the Taycan, the yet-to-be-named vehicle is expected to be equipped with two electric motors that produce at least 400 bhp. Other details of the vehicle are still scarce at this point, though speculations point to the SUV having a real-world range of at least 250 miles per charge.

The Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo and the Taycan. (Photo: Porsche)

While not as robust as the range of competitors like the Tesla Model X, Porsche’s upcoming electric SUV would likely be capable of ultra-fast charging, which would enable the vehicle to charge its batteries very quickly. This would also be a notable edge against competitors like the Jaguar I-PACE, which does not have support from a network of Superchargers like Tesla’s, or Porsche’s upcoming 350 KW stations. 

Advertisement
-->

The upcoming SUV is currently speculated to be an electric powered successor to the Porsche Macan. As such, the vehicle would definitely be larger than the Taycan and the Mission E Cross Turismo, both of which are based on the same platform. Thanks to the vehicle’s all-electric construction and design, though, the upcoming SUV is expected to offer space and storage similar to the larger Porsche Cayenne, despite being more similar in size to the smaller Macan. 

A render of Porsche’s upcoming all-electric SUV as imagined by UK-based WhatCar. (Photo: WhatCar)

What is rather interesting is that the vehicle would most likely be the start of yet another line of electric cars from the veteran carmaker. Similar to how the Taycan could be the basis of more EVs, the upcoming electric SUV would likely be the start of a whole new family of vehicles as well.

Porsche is arguably the most serious among the industry’s legacy automakers when it comes to the adoption of electric mobility. In an announcement last year, for one, the German company announced that it is discontinuing its entire diesel lineup. Instead, the company is pushing for full electrification, with Porsche stating that by 2025, half its offerings would either be hybrids or all-electric cars. In a statement to CNN Money, Blume explained that while Porsche is not in any way “demonizing” diesel, the company has decided to forego the fuel nonetheless.

“(Diesel) is, and will remain, an important propulsion technology. We as a sports car manufacturer, however, for whom diesel has always played a secondary role, have come to the conclusion that we would like our future to be diesel-free,” the Porsche CEO said.

Simon is an experienced automotive reporter with a passion for electric cars and clean energy. Fascinated by the world envisioned by Elon Musk, he hopes to make it to Mars (at least as a tourist) someday. For stories or tips--or even to just say a simple hello--send a message to his email, simon@teslarati.com or his handle on X, @ResidentSponge.

Advertisement
Comments

News

Tesla Cybertruck welcomed with open arms in South Korea

The event featured interactive demos, a light show with the full Tesla lineup, and announcements including FSD Supervised’s planned rollout to Cybertruck by the end of 2025.

Published

on

Credit: @hohocho/X

Tesla Korea handed over its first 30 Cybertrucks to owners on Thursday during a ceremonial event at the Cultural Reserve Base in Seoul, marking the all-electric pickup truck’s official debut outside North America. 

The event featured interactive demos, a light show with the full Tesla lineup, and announcements including FSD Supervised’s planned rollout to Cybertruck by the end of 2025.

A historic delivery event

The November 27 event transformed a former oil reserve warehouse into a symbolic launchpad for electric mobility. Attended by 30 new owners, the event included hands-on activities such as hammer-strike durability tests, accessory sales, a lucky draw, and group photos. It culminated in a synchronized light show featuring the 30 Cybertrucks alongside Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y vehicles, which drew cheers from attendees.

Yvonne Chan, Tesla APAC Regional Director, joined as a special guest to celebrate the delivery milestone. Tesla Korea President Seo Young-deuk was also in attendance, and shared his optimism for the company’s momentum in the country. 

“Korea is currently the third-largest market for Tesla sales worldwide, and this year, for the first time, it has achieved the No. 1 spot in imported car brand sales volume, Tesla Korea is growing at an incredibly rapid pace,” he said. “To repay this love from our customers, Tesla plans to continue investing in the Korean market and enhancing the customer experience.”

Advertisement
-->

FSD Supervised launches in Korea

Seo announced the official introduction of Full Self-Driving (Supervised) in Korea, with Cybertrucks slated for inclusion by the end of 2025, which promoted applause from the event’s attendees. With even the Cybertruck expected to receive FSD this year, Tesla Korea’s fleet could very well become the country’s most advanced vehicles overnight. 

Infrastructure growth remains a priority to support Tesla Korea’s expanding fleet. Tesla Korea’s Supercharger network currently includes 166 sites with 1,133 stalls, with V4 units planned for nationwide highway rest areas to boost long-distance travel. The company also operates seven stores and 15 service centers, though plans are underway to double both by 2027. A new store in Incheon’s Songdo district is scheduled to open by December 2025, enhancing accessibility for western Seoul-area customers.

Seo concluded, “Through all-encompassing investments spanning products, charging infrastructure, and service networks, Tesla Korea will deliver the most refined electric vehicle experience to Korean customers.”

Continue Reading

News

Tesla China delivery centers packed as Q4 2025 enters its final month

Fresh photos from delivery centers in the country show rows upon rows of Model Ys and Model 3s.

Published

on

Credit: Tesla China

Tesla’s delivery centers in China are filled with vehicles as the company ramps up for its final push in Q4 2025. Fresh photos from delivery centers in the country show rows upon rows of Model Ys and Model 3s, signaling strong end-of-quarter momentum.

A delivery push for Q4 2025

A recent aerial shot from a Tesla delivery center in China captures the company’s efforts to deliver as many vehicles as possible as the year comes to a close. As could be seen in the image, which was posted by on X by Tesla enthusiast Nic Cruz Patane, the facility was filled with numerous Model Y and Model 3 units, each vehicle seemingly ready to be handed over to customers.

Echoing the scene, another post, reportedly from two weeks prior, showed a similar scene in a Shanghai location, which was packed with Model Y units. X user Roberto Nores shared the photo, noting that the image also shows multiple Model Y Ls, a six-seat extended wheelbase version of the popular all-electric crossover. 

Towards a strong Q4 finish

China remains Tesla’s volume powerhouse, accounting for a good portion of the company’s global deliveries in recent quarters. That being said, reports did emerge in early November stating that the company only reached 26,006 retail sales during October, as noted in a CNEV Post report. The reasons for this remain to be seen, though a focus on exports could have been a contributing factor.

Tesla China does seem to be hinting at some momentum this November. Just recently, Tesla watchers observed that the order page for the Model Y in China shows a message informing customers that those who wish to guarantee delivery by the end of the year should purchase an inventory unit. This was despite the Model Y RWD and Model Y L showing an estimated delivery timeline of 4-8 weeks, and the Model Y Long Range RWD and Model Y Long Range AWD showing 4-13 weeks. 

Advertisement
-->
Continue Reading

Elon Musk

SpaceX’s Starship FL launch site will witness scenes once reserved for sci-fi films

A Starship that launches from the Florida site could touch down on the same site years later.

Published

on

Credit: SpaceX/X

The Department of the Air Force (DAF) has released its Final Environmental Impact Statement for SpaceX’s efforts to launch and land Starship and its Super Heavy booster at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s SLC-37.

According to the Impact Statement, Starship could launch up to 76 times per year on the site, with Super Heavy boosters returning within minutes of liftoff and Starship upper stages landing back on the same pad in a timeframe that was once only possible in sci-fi movies. 

Booster in Minutes, Ship in (possibly) years

The EIS explicitly referenced a never-before-seen operational concept: Super Heavy boosters will launch, reach orbit, and be caught by the tower chopsticks roughly seven minutes after liftoff. Meanwhile, the Starship upper stage will complete its mission, whether a short orbital test, lunar landing, or a multi-year Mars cargo run, and return to the exact same SLC-37 pad upon mission completion.

“The Super Heavy booster landings would occur within a few minutes of launch, while the Starship landings would occur upon completion of the Starship missions, which could last hours or years,” the EIS read.

This means a Starship that departs the Florida site in, say, 2027, could touch down on the same site in 2030 or later, right beside a brand-new stack preparing for its own journey, as noted in a Talk Of Titusville report. The 214-page document treats these multi-year round trips as standard procedure, effectively turning the location into one of the world’s first true interplanetary spaceports.

Advertisement
-->

Noise and emissions flagged but deemed manageable

While the project received a clean bill of health overall, the EIS identified two areas requiring ongoing mitigation. Sonic booms from Super Heavy booster and Starship returns will cause significant community annoyance” particularly during nighttime operations, though structural damage is not expected. Nitrogen oxide emissions during launches will also exceed federal de minimis thresholds, prompting an adaptive management plan with real-time monitoring.

Other impacts, such as traffic, wildlife (including southeastern beach mouse and Florida scrub-jay), wetlands, and historic sites, were deemed manageable under existing permits and mitigation strategies. The Air Force is expected to issue its Record of Decision within weeks, followed by FAA concurrence, setting the stage for rapid redevelopment of the former site into a dual-tower Starship complex.

SpaceX Starship Environmental Impact Statement by Simon Alvarez

Continue Reading