A tribute to the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally win, Porsche’s latest 911 is a unique off-road-capable 473-hp sports car with lifted suspension and all-terrain tires.
Last year, Singer, the famous Porsche modifier, launched the ACS — an off-road-focused 911 with raised suspension and all-terrain tires. Porsche was furious and asked Singer to immediately stop using its name (imprinted on the car). Meanwhile, the companies settled the misunderstanding, and now Singer is an official Porsche restorer. But now we also know why Porsche was angry at Singer — it worked on its own all-terrain 911.
The 911 Dakar was a long time in the making, as Porsche enthusiasts asked for a similar car after an AWD 911 with lifted suspension won the Dakar Rally in 1984 and later in 1986 with the 959. But it’s only now that Porsche has launched a consumer off-road sports car with the 911 Dakar. And interestingly, it won’t be alone on the market, as Lamborghini launched a similar product with the Huracán Sterrato.
Porsche has been teasing the 911 Dakar for the past few weeks, and we also saw many spy photos. Now that it’s official, the 2023 911 Dakar packs a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-six, borrowed from the 911 Carrera GTS, producing 473 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. The powertrain is accompanied by Porsche’s eight-speed PDK transmission for extra quick shifts.
The result is a speedy off-roader that reaches 60 mph (96 km/h) in just 3.2 seconds. That’s quite fast, though most super-SUVs today boast similar acceleration figures. Meanwhile, Porsche limited the top speed to 150 mph because that’s the limit of the Pirelli Scorpion all-terrain tires.
Yup, the 911 Dakar has similar tires to what Wranglers come with, providing added traction on slippery terrains, such as dirt and gravel, and higher puncture resistance. Still, Porsche will also offer customers a choice of summer and winter performance tires.
But the star of the show is the 2-inch (50 mm) higher suspension, which can create an additional 1.2-inch (30 mm) lift upon the driver’s request. As a result, Porsche says that the 911 Dakar can be driven very fast on dirt roads; in the High setting (3.2-inch lift overall), it can reach 105 mph, which is more than enough for having fun on a hardpacked surface.
But unlike the fast super-SUVs of the world, the 911 Dakar can also provide an enjoyable experience on twisty paved roads. Porsche equipped its first off-road sports car with rear-wheel steering, Porsche Traction Management, and the body roll-reducing Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control.
To help the driver find the perfect balance on every surface, Porsche added two additional modes — Off-Road and Rallye. The former is better suited to slower off-road driving, while the latter prepares the 911 Dakar for maximizing traction on loose surfaces, such as sand and rough terrain. Notably, the Rallye mode allows for a 20%-wheel-spin for better drivability.
Despite the numerous modifications, the 911 Dakar weighs only 16 pounds more than a 911 Carrera 4 GTS, further adding to the handling dynamics.
But the 911 Dakar wouldn’t have been a real adventure vehicle with body add-ons. Thus, Porsche will offer a roof tent and cargo basket, adding to the sports car’s looks. While we are at it, the 911 looks like it was meant as an off-road vehicle from its inception. With the raised suspension, additional body cladding, cool rear spoiler, and a Rothmans Roughroads livery, the Dakar is as appealing as a 911 can get.
Porsche will sadly build only 2,500 units of the 911 Dakar, each starting at $223,450 in the US.
Gallery: Porsche 911 Dakar
