In an unprecedented move, Porsche pulled a surprise at the last Geneva motor show when they unveiled their new 590bhp electric-powered crossover vehicle that is based on their upcoming Mission E.

Porsche calls it the Mission E Cross Turismo concept and it is described by their chairman, Oliver Blume, as a study created by a team of designers and engineers to examine if a market exists for such an outwardly sporting zero-emission ‘cross utility vehicle’.

Blume says it “fuses Mission E design with Panamera Sport Turismo off-road touches” and is “a unique concept that has instant appeal”.

Unofficially, it is a rolling blueprint for Porsche’s second electric model, which is set to follow the production version of next year’s Mission E four-door sedan to showrooms in 2021 with the sort of performance that, according to Blume, will not disappoint.

“The Mission E Cross Turismo is an expression of how we envision the all-electric future,” said Blume. “It combines sportiness and everyday practicality in a unique style. It will be fast to drive, but also quick to recharge and able to replicate its performance time after time.”

Powered by two permanent magnet synchronous electric motors – one mounted up front and another at the rear – the four-wheel-drive Mission E Cross Turismo is claimed to boast a combined 590bhp, some 76bhp more than the facelifted version of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS that also made its public debut in Geneva.

Porsche said the power characteristics of the two electric motors provide a “level of continuous power that is unmatched by any other electric vehicle” on sale today.

“Multiple acceleration runs are possible in direct succession without loss of performance,” said Blume.

Porsche hasn’t revealed any details about the weight of the 4950mm Mission E Cross Turismo long concept, but computer simulations suggest it will accelerate to 62mph in less than 3.5sec and reach 124mph in less than 12.0sec.

The new Porsche has been engineered with the same 800V charging system as the Mission E, with an 80% recharge claimed to be possible in less than 15 minutes.

Alternatively, the Mission E Cross Turismo can be charged inductively.

Stylistically, the second of Porsche’s electric models adopts the smooth body surfacing of the Mission E sedan together with characteristic off-road cues such as wheel arch cladding and underbody protection.

Inside, it previews a new curved touchscreen display coupled with an eye-tracking control system used to operate its infotainment system.

The Mission E models are the clearest illustration of Porsche’s increasing focus on electrification, but the brand is also quietly working on an electrified variant of its 992-generation 911, which is due out in 2019. It will mate an electric powertrain to a turbocharged flat-six engine to become the first hybrid 911.

Company executives have suggested to Autocar that all-electric versions of the 911 and its smaller 718 siblings are already being considered for the future as well, but they’re unlikely to make it on to roads until solid-state battery technology, which offers vast improvements in range and charge times, reaches a point where it can be commercialized.

The use of electric power in Porsches reflects changes in demand from the brand’s customers, who in recent months have begun to demand hybrid models in significantly larger numbers. Sales of the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid, for example, accounted for 50% of global Panamera demand last year.