Mark Webber drives Porsche's pure-electric Mission E

Aussie F1 star, Mark Webber, has been given exclusive access, and a drive, of Porsche's pure-electric Mission E months before journalists get a chance to climb behind the wheel.

Thought to have taken place last week at the German sports car maker's private Weissach test track, Webber claimed it was his first opportunity to drive the battery-powered Mission E.

Scheduled for one of the most highly-anticipated launches of 2019, the Tesla fighter will come with two electric motors that produce an incredible 440kW in combination.

This, says Porsche, should be enough to launch the Mission E to 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds.

Set to have a range of more than 500km, the pure-electric sedan is the result of billions of investment that includes the development of an all-new platform and 800-volt charger that takes just 15 minutes for an 80 per cent charge.

Webber, fresh from his recent stint as a development driver of the fearsome 911 GT2, came away impressed, although his comments should be taken with a pinch of salt as the Le Mans winner remains under contract with the Stuttgart car maker.

After a few hot laps, the F1 ace declared the Mission E as a 'game-changer' as he climbed out of the car, even suggesting some similarities with his old 919 race car, that could run at low speed in pure-electric mode.

"It’s a game changer, this car. Quite literally, it is stealth in motion.

"Still clearly a Porsche, it actually kept reminding me of the 919, as there were times where we could drive our Le Mans racer on E-Motor alone.

"The gorgeous view from inside the cockpit over the front wheel arches is pure 918 and the way the four-wheel drive system puts its 600hp down, simply sensational," exclaimed Webber.

Admitting he had some reservations about the Mission E's weight, the former Red Bull F1 driver praised the four-wheel steering, performance and braking."