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Porsche's Tesla-fighter could have 600 hp and 300-mile range

Will this be the Ragin' Pajun? Some details on the all-electric "Tesla fighter" from Porsche have been revealed by UK's Car magazine, and, to put it bluntly, the model that has preliminarily been dubbed the 717 will be an absolute beast when it hits the road as early as 2019. With some technological help from parent company Volkswagen, Porsche is planning a model that will have about a 300-mile single-charge range, and a version that may deliver as much as 600 horsepower. The four-door will also be four-wheel-drive, with one electric motor per axle, and four-wheel steering, all for the sake of consistency, Car says. Additionally, unlike the Tesla Model S, with its battery packs running flat along the floor of the vehicle, the 717's battery layout will be far more complex, complete with bulkhead walls and 108 separate battery pouches. Last month, German publication Auto Motor und Sport reported that the Panamera's junior variant, aka the Pajun, was indeed going to be an all-electric affair. Still, beyond a few digital renderings and an estimated single-charge range of 250 miles, few details were revealed.

Porsche reveals first Macan driving and manufacturing footage

One of the more anticipated offerings of the upcoming year, Porsche's sporty baby Cayenne, the 2015 Macan, has already earned nods of approval from a number of Autoblog staffers. We named it one of the top five debuts at last month's LA Auto Show, citing its 400-horsepower turbocharged engine and other sporty bits as good reasons to get excited about Stuttgart's latest.
And while our first test may be many months away, we're keeping our ears to the ground for any information on Porsche's compact crossover. We're especially keen on stuff like this - our first look at the new model in motion and undergoing assembly at its Leipzig plant. Both are shorter videos, and while there's little of the glorious engine noise we've already been teased with, the videos do offer a great look at the handsome Macan on the road, as well as glimpse at Porsche's state-of-the-art manufacturing operations.
Scope out the videos below and let us know what you think.

Will the Mission E be the world's first must-have EV?

The Porsche Mission E concept was recently green-lit for production and has a tentative production date just before the end of the decade. With the recent onslaught of all-electric technology, the question remains: Which automaker will release the first must have all-electric EV? Tesla has clearly gained experience in testing the worldwide appetite for luxury, six-figure EVs, having sold its 100,000th vehicle in just three years and six months. But it remains to be seen if automakers can truly manufacture the ultimate green driving machine. Audi has shown its R8 e-tron but acknowledged that it will be produced in only limited quantities. On the other end of the spectrum, vehicles like the Chevy Bolt and BMW i8 are being produced for mass consumption, but will they satisfy the enthusiast who is looking for more than a commuter car? Tesla's Model S has certainly raised eyebrows and collected accolades with "ludicrous" level straight-line performance, but how well will the vehicle stand up to long-term ownership for enthusiasts? Porsche has dismissed any notions of autonomous driving in its vehicles, suggesting that it will try to stay close to its high-performance roots. This would seem to suggest that despite all the forecasted performance cred of the Mission E – 582 horsepower, 0–60 in 3.5 seconds, and a 310-mile range – potential buyers may not be getting the latest and greatest in gee-whiz-bang autonomous technology. And while Porsche has offered that future iterations of its 911 and 718 may in fact use hybrid-assisted drivetrains, the execution of a true, mass-produced, all-electric sports sedan remains to be seen. One thing is for certain, unlike start-ups like Tesla, the larger, more established manufacturers have larger budgets and more time to invest in R&D. Consumers have raised expectations from the more mature automakers in terms of reliability and the overall finish of their products. The arrival of the Mission E production car may introduce us to electric sports sedans that emphasize performance over efficiency while still eliminating its carbon footprint. Related Video: Porsche Electric porsche mission e porsche mission e concept open road