As the automotive world accelerates toward electrification, the role of electric powertrains in motorsport is becoming increasingly significant. In this context, Porsche Vision LMPE emerges as a thoughtful student-led concept that explores the feasibility and form of fully electric endurance race cars, specifically within the demanding environment of events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Designed by Edoardo Bassilisi, this personal, unofficial project reflects a strong understanding of Porsche’s racing heritage while integrating the technological direction and sustainable values required for the next generation of competition vehicles.
At the heart of the Porsche Vision LMPE concept car lies a pressing question: Can electric race cars preserve the soul of endurance racing? In a world racing toward electrification, where battery packs replace fuel tanks and the growl of combustion gives way to quiet propulsion, this challenge becomes not only technical but emotional. For Edoardo, a transportation design graduate, the solution was to look backwards to move forward. His vision is rooted in Porsche’s racing heritage, specifically the iconic Porsche 908/03 and 917 K—both legendary endurance racers. The result is a striking EV concept that blends heritage and innovation. The body features flowing, sculpted volumes reminiscent of 1970s prototypes, interrupted by sharp, geometric elements that communicate technical precision and modern electric engineering. This juxtaposition captures the emotional DNA of Porsche while pushing the boundaries of future-ready EV design.
Porsche vision LMPE exterior design
The Porsche Vision LMPE concept reimagines the future of electric endurance racing through a refined balance of fluid form and technical function. Its upper body is sculpted with clean, aerodynamic surfaces that prioritize airflow management—crucial for long-distance performance. Subtle lines give structure and motion to the smooth volumes, blending visual elegance with racing purpose. In contrast, the exposed underbody and chassis adopt a raw, mechanical language. Structural elements and performance-driven components are left visible, showcasing the vehicle’s engineering rather than concealing it. This deliberate contrast—between the sculptural top and the functional base—defines the car’s character and highlights the dual nature of endurance racing today.
Design highlights include a reinterpreted four-lens headlight, now sleeker for the EV era, and a transparent rear blade light with integrated LEDS that serve both as a stylistic signature and aerodynamic aid. Side-mounted charging ports allow quick pit access, while modular battery compartments hint at real-world racing practicality.
Driver-centric and purpose-built interior design
When you step inside the Porsche Vision LMPE, the design language shifts from expressive exterior surfaces to focused, functional minimalism, deeply inspired by Formula 1 cockpit design. Every decision inside the cabin serves a single purpose: to enhance driver performance and endurance. The seat is integrated directly into the carbon-fibre monocoque, increasing chassis rigidity while maximising driver safety, a technique borrowed straight from high-performance motorsport engineering.
The steering wheel preserves Porsche’s iconic circular hub, but evolves with a built-in digital interface that displays real-time race data, telemetry, and system diagnostics. This integration delivers advanced information without compromising the brand’s design identity. It’s a thoughtful blend of heritage and innovation, tailored for a future defined by electric performance. True to Porsche’s ethos, the interior of this electric endurance racer is entirely free from unnecessary embellishments. Materials are chosen for durability, weight savings, and long-distance comfort—each surface optimised for tactile clarity and ergonomic support. From the focused instrument layout to the seamless driver interface, the LMPE’s cockpit proves that in the electric era, performance begins from within.
Sustainability with purpose
One of the most forward-thinking aspects of the Porsche Vision LMPE concept is its clear commitment to sustainable automotive design—a principle becoming increasingly vital in the future of motorsport. From its earliest sketches, the project was envisioned not only as an electric endurance race car but as a blueprint for how performance and responsibility can coexist on the track.
At the core of the LMPE’s construction is a selection of recyclable, lightweight materials used across both the exterior body panels and interior elements. These materials reduce environmental impact while also improving agility and efficiency, key metrics in long-distance racing. Complementing this is a modular battery system, engineered for rapid replacement and easy accessibility. This approach minimises pit stop downtime while also supporting smarter battery lifecycle management, making the car more adaptable to the demands of modern racing.
The LMPE’s performance brief includes built-in energy regeneration systems and finely tuned aerodynamic surfaces, ensuring not just speed but also extended range and optimized energy use—crucial factors in the competitive EV motorsport landscape. Perhaps most striking is the use of the exposed chassis structure as a visible design element. Rather than conceal the vehicle’s mechanical systems, the LMPE celebrates them. This philosophy of mechanical honesty aligns with a growing movement in contemporary automotive design, where engineering is not hidden behind styling but proudly displayed as part of the aesthetic narrative.
Design relevance and vision
By envisioning the Porsche Vision LMPE in a Gulf Racing livery, Edoardo ties his concept firmly to Porsche’s rich endurance racing heritage. The familiar blue and orange not only evokes Le Mans glory but reinforces an emotional continuity between past and future. Though not an official project, the LMPE speaks fluently in Porsche’s design language—blending sustainable materials, modular EV tech, and motorsport-inspired aesthetics into a cohesive vision. It shows that the spirit of endurance racing can evolve without compromise, proving that the next generation of performance doesn’t have to leave tradition behind.
