What's all this about?

Remember Frankfurt 2015's stunning Porsche Mission E all-electric sports car? Remember the recent announcement that the German company was investing £5.3billion in its electric future? Then feast your eyes on this. It's the Porsche Mission E Cross Turismo, the second all-electric model under Stuttgart's new eco-brand, and probably due to hit the streets not long after the Mission E goes on sale in 2020. The Cross Turismo, an EV CUV (that's cross utility vehicle, in Porsche-speak), was revealed to the world at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.

It looks tremendous. What's powering it, then?

The same running gear as found in the Mission E. The Cross Turismo has a pair of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) that, between them, generate more than 400kW or 600hp+. Thus, the all-wheel-drive performance is remarkable: despite measuring 4.95 metres long, the Cross Turismo runs 0-62mph in less than 3.5 seconds and will hit 124mph from a standing start before 12 seconds have passed. Furthermore, it has an 800-volt electrical architecture, so it can be recharged equally well by rapid charging or induction. Porsche also reckons that you can employ maximum acceleration numerous times, without any significant loss of the CUV's electric performance.

Wow! So it's like a really saintly Cayenne Turbo?

Yeah, kind of. But let's hear from Oliver Blume, the CEO of Porsche, who said: "The Mission E Cross Turismo is an expression of how we envision the all-electric future. It combines sportiness and everyday practicality in unique style. Our vehicle will be fast to drive, but also quick to recharge and able to replicate its performance time after time."

Anything more on this one?

Well, Porsche said the Mission E Cross Turismo is already 'fit for the road', so it could be going on sale very soon after the Mission E sports car arrives in global showrooms in 2020.

This is all very noble, but what else did Porsche show at Geneva?

Alongside the Cross Turismo in Geneva was the revised 911 GT3 RS, known as the 991.2 in fan-parlance. It's a traditional Porsche in terms of its approach to pace, although its searing performance is anything but old-school. It kicks out a whopping 520hp from its rear-mounted, normally aspirated, 4.0-litre flat-six. That makes it the most powerful road-going track car, without recourse to forced induction, that Porsche has ever made. Want some numbers? How about 0-62mph in 3.2 seconds and 194mph flat out? Oh, and the 991.2 911 GT3 RS also has rear-axle steering, for maximum nimbleness on circuit. Much, much, MUCH want for this thing...

Matt Robinson - 6 Mar 2018