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First reviews of Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo are in, and they are glowing

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Porsche recently offered auto reviewers a chance to experience its latest all-electric vehicle, the Mission E Cross Turismo concept, firsthand. As could be seen in the initial reactions to the vehicle’s design and performance, Porsche’s off-road-capable, shooting brake-esque variant of the original Mission E sedan would likely be a strong contender in the electric car market. 

The Mission E Cross Turismo concept, just like its Tesla Model S-rivaling sedan counterpart, features a highly aerodynamic design. Featuring generous vents on the side, a shape that optimizes airflow around the vehicle, and design elements such as Model S-esque pop-up door handles, the Mission E Cross Turismo was created with form and function in mind. Sitting on treaded General Grabber AT275/40R-20 tires, the Cross Turismo concept also adopts an aggressive stance.

Reviewers of the Mission E Cross Turismo gave the electric vehicle much praise, mainly due to its performance, which is unanimously dubbed as true to the car’s badge. Car and Driver, for one, lauded the Cross Turismo for its capability to sprint from 0-62 mph in 3.5 seconds, its electric motors that generate 600 hp, and its 90 kWh battery that gives a range of 310 miles. The Mission E Cross Turismo’s compatibility with the 350 kW IONITY network, which is capable of recharging 250 miles of range in just 15 minutes, was also mentioned as a strong point for the upcoming car.

The Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo concept. [Credit: Porsche]

The Mission E Cross Turismo is equipped with several fancy bells and whistles as well, including a drone that can take aerial videos of the electric car in action. Considering that the Mission E Cross Turismo is designed to be a vehicle that can perform equally well on and off-road, reviewers of the electric car lauded its adaptive air-spring suspension, which allows the car to raise or lower its ride height as necessary. 

Inside the car itself, reviewers took particular notice to the vehicle’s rather sparse but classy interior, from its generous binnacle in front of the steering wheel to its touch panel on the passenger side. Though not as radically minimalistic as the Tesla Model 3, the Cross Turismo concept’s dashboard was found to be a departure from Porsche’s tendency to place a generous number of knobs and switches in its vehicles.

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CNET Roadshow‘s Tim Stevens, one the reviewers who was given the opportunity to drive the Cross Turismo concept, ultimately stated that considering its design, features, and driving performance, the upcoming vehicle could very well make a significant impact in the electric car industry.

“The global electric car market is still quite young, and while companies like Tesla have done a great job building the stage, I can’t help but think that when the Mission E hits the market next year, it’s gonna steal the show.”

Ultimately, the Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo looks like a solid contender in the electric car market. When it starts production early next decade, vehicles such as the Tesla Model Y would likely find some competition from the electric off-roader. Porsche’s all-electric line stands to make an impact as early as next year, however, as the Mission E sedan is set to start production in 2019, followed by the Cross Turismo in 2020. Pricing for the Mission E sedan and the Cross Turismo have not been revealed by the German carmaker, though expectations are high that the latter’s cost would be in the same ballpark as the Panamera S E-Hybrid.

As Porche prepares to launch its first all-electric vehicle, the German legacy automaker is starting to increase its marketing efforts for the upcoming car. Just recently, a Mission E prototype was driven around the track by former Formula One driver Mark Webber, who noted that the sedan had similarities as the Porsche 919 Hybrid, a high-performance vehicle he drove for the company in competitions such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Mission E sedan’s concept version, which debuted at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, was also taken for a spin by Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine in a recent ad for the vehicle. In the United States, Porsche Cars North America has revealed that that it is building a network of 500 fast chargers to support the Mission E sedan’s rollout next year. 

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Watch Tim Stevens of CNET Roadshow take the Mission E for a test drive in the video below.

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.

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Tesla bolsters App with new safety, insurance, and storage features

The Tesla Smartphone App is one of the biggest and best features and advantages owners have. Everything from moving the vehicle with Summon, to getting Navigation sent to the car, to preconditioning the cabin can be done with the Tesla App.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla is bolstering its smartphone App with a series of new features to streamline operations for owners. The new additions include fixes to safety, its in-house insurance offering, and storage management for Dashcam clips.

The Tesla Smartphone App is one of the biggest and best features and advantages owners have. Everything from moving the vehicle with Summon, to getting Navigation sent to the car, to preconditioning the cabin can be done with the Tesla App.

But in classic Tesla fashion, the company is aiming to improve the offerings of the app, and it is doing so with a handful of new features. They were first discovered by Tesla App Updates.

Tesla Insurance – Safety Score 3.0

This is truly part of the Spring 2026 Update, but Tesla has now given more transparency on how FSD has saved people money on their premiums.

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Tesla intertwines FSD with in-house Insurance for attractive incentive

Additionally, Tesla is now automatically awarding a Safety Score of 100 for every mile traveled on Full Self-Driving (Supervised).

Update Tracking

Updates traditionally appear on the App or on the Center Touchscreen in the car. There is nothing better than seeing that Green Arrow at the top of the screen, or opening your app and seeing that there is a Software Update available.

Now, there will be no need to manually check the app and initiate the download. Tesla is enabling a new feature that will automatically download updates for you.

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Storage Management

Your USB drive can now be remotely formatted, and old Dashcam clips can be deleted straight from the phone. When you record a lot of things using the Dashcam feature, that storage fills up pretty quickly.

Now, manually deleting the Dashcam videos is easier than ever.

Trailer Light Test

This is perhaps the coolest and most crucial addition to the Tesla App, as those who tow and haul will now be able to trigger a diagnostic light sequence from the app while standing behind your trailer to ensure the brake lights work.

Verifying your trailer lights are connected properly and operating normally and as intended is normally a massive hassle.

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Now, a new trigger will be available to initiate a diagnostic light sequence directly from your phone.

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Tesla is building private Superchargers just for Robotaxi

For Tesla, these Robotaxi-only Superchargers represent more than convenient parking spots. They are the first bricks in a vertically integrated autonomy platform—vehicles, energy, and software working in seamless concert. 

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla is starting to build out Robotaxi-only Superchargers as the company is truly leaning on its Full Self-Driving and autonomy efforts to solve passenger travel.

Last week, the company filed pre-permits in Arizona’s East Valley for two dedicated, non-public charging sites stocked with next-generation V4 Superchargers. The filings mark the first visible evidence of purpose-built infrastructure exclusively for autonomous Tesla vehicles, as they state they are not for public use.

In Chandler, Tesla plans to install 56 V4 stalls on an industrial parcel along South Roosevelt Avenue. Site documents describe a high-capacity setup supported by new SRP transformers, switching cabinets, and upgrades to existing underground lines.

A second site in Mesa, located at 5349 E Main Street in another industrial zone, carries the same private-use designation. Both locations sit well away from public roads and customer traffic, ensuring the chargers serve only Tesla’s internal fleet.

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The sites were spotted by Supercharger observer MarcoRP.

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Phoenix’s East Valley offers an ideal launchpad for Robotaxi Supercharging: the location has a clean, grid-like street layout and year-round mild weather that minimizes camera degradation. Additionally, Arizona has welcomed self-driving pilots since Waymo’s early days.

By securing private depots now, Tesla can optimize charging cycles, reduce downtime, and maintain full control over vehicle hygiene and security, critical factors for high-utilization Robotaxi operations.

The type of Supercharger is telling as well, as they are V4, Tesla’s fastest and most efficient buildout.

V4 stalls deliver faster power and support bidirectional charging, features that will let idle Robotaxis feed energy back to the grid during off-peak hours. Because the sites are closed to the public, Tesla avoids congestion, vandalism risks, and the scheduling conflicts that plague shared stations.

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The timing is telling. With unsupervised Full Self-Driving hardware already rolling out across the lineup and Cybercab production targets looming, Tesla is shifting from vehicle development to ecosystem readiness.

Charging infrastructure has historically been the gating factor for ride-hailing scale; building it ahead of the vehicles signals confidence that regulatory and technical hurdles are nearing resolution.

Tesla has been spotted testing Cybercab units in Arizona over the past few months, as well.

Interestingly, the permits show V4 Superchargers in the plans, although Cybercab will likely utilize wireless charging:

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Tesla Cybercab spotted with interesting charging solution, stimulating discussion

For Tesla, these Robotaxi-only Superchargers represent more than convenient parking spots. They are the first bricks in a vertically integrated autonomy platform—vehicles, energy, and software working in seamless concert.

It appears Tesla is preparing to begin building out Robotaxi-only Superchargers to avoid the congestion and keep its autonomous fleet charged up to get ride-hailers to their destinations.

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ARK’s SpaceX IPO Guide makes a compelling case on why $1.75T may not be the ceiling

ARK Invest breaks down six reasons SpaceX’s $1.75 trillion IPO valuation may be justified.

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ARK Invest, which holds SpaceX as its largest Venture Fund position at 17% of net assets, has published a detailed investor guide to why a SpaceX IPO may be grounded in a $1.75 trillion target valuation.

The financial case starts with Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet constellation, which has surpassed 10 million active subscribers globally as of early 2026, with 2026 revenue projected to exceed $20 billion. ARK’s research puts the total satellite connectivity market opportunity at roughly $160 billion annually at scale, and Starlink is adding customers faster than any telecom network in history. That growth alone would justify a substantial valuation.

Additionally,  ARK notes that SpaceX has reduced the cost per kilogram to orbit from roughly $15,600 in 2008 to under $1,000 today through reusable Falcon 9 hardware. A fully operational Starship targeting sub-$100 per kilogram would represent a significant cost decline and open markets that do not currently exist. SpaceX executed a staggering 165 missions in 2025 and now accounts for approximately 85% of all global orbital launches. That infrastructure position took decades to build and would be nearly impossible to replicate at comparable cost.

SpaceX officially acquires xAI, merging rockets with AI expertise

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The February 2026 merger with xAI added a layer to the valuation that straightforward financial models struggle to capture. ARK argues that at sub-$100 launch costs, orbital data centers could deliver compute roughly 25% cheaper than ground-based alternatives, without power grid delays, permitting friction, or land constraints. Musk has stated a goal of deploying 100 gigawatts of AI computing capacity per year from orbit.

The $1.75 trillion figure itself is not a conventional earnings multiple. At roughly 95x trailing revenue, it prices in Starlink’s adoption curve, Starship’s cost trajectory, and the orbital compute thesis together. The public S-1 prospectus, due at least 15 days before the June roadshow, will give investors their first complete look at the financials to test those assumptions. ARK’s position is that the track record earns the benefit of the doubt. Fully reusable rockets were considered unrealistic for years. Starlink was considered financially unviable. Both happened on timelines that surprised skeptics.

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