The Mission S is a vision model, not a production car, but it comes with a big promise. Porsche says it’s the start of a new mid-engined super sports car platform, sitting above the 911. Chairman Michael Leiters is clear that it won’t be a one-off hypercar. It’s meant to be a permanent addition to the range. Porsche hasn’t said anything about power or specs yet, so it’s all about design for now.

And what a lot of design references. The torpedo fenders and round headlights nod to the 911. The shut lines are a tip of the hat to the G-Model, the flat nose is borrowed from the GT1, and the roofline recalls the 959. At the back, there’s a “car-in-car” detail, again from the GT1. The wheels take their cue from the 928’s dial design, and there’s even a cooling fan arrangement that hints at the 917. That might sound like a lot to cram into one car, but it’s all wrapped in clean, flowing surfaces that Porsche calls “floating volumes.”

Inside, things get interesting. There is deliberately no permanent centre screen or passenger display. Instead, there are five round instruments behind the wheel, with an analogue rev counter at the centre that moves closer to the driver depending on the drive mode. The key slot is on the left of the steering wheel, as ever, and there are push-pull controls on the dash. If you want navigation, a retractable MagSafe mount lets you use your own phone.

The colours are worth a mention too. Firn White Metallic, Light Red Metallic and Black Chrome borrow from the brand’s racing past, with Special Black inside.

Head of Style Tobias Sühlmann says the Mission S shows a direction Porsche will “soon” translate into its future range. That’s the real takeaway. This is a first glimpse of how Porsche plans to look and feel for the next decade, and it seems to be going back to basics.