Porsche knows how to monetize its heritage, very often with the help of purely aesthetic arguments in the service of marketing. But the Porsche 911 Dakar is of a completely different caliber and pays homage to the victory of a Porsche 911 “953” in the Paris-Dakar rally-raid in 1984. For once, the arsenal of technical modifications is standard and retro makeup is optional. With 480 hp, a suspension raised by 80 mm and a check for €250,000, exclusivity is guaranteed for the 2,500 happy future owners.
A chassis to match
The main visible modification concerns, of course, the suspension raised by 50 mm compared to a “normal” 911. Even better, the Porsche 911 Dakar can even rise an additional 30 mm via the standard lifting system, or 80 mm in total. Enough to tackle any playground that might tempt adventurous owners. This configuration gives this 911 adventurer ground clearance and a ramp angle worthy of an SUV.
Of course, Porsche puts on 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels with Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain all-terrain tires in 245/45 ZR 19 at the front and 295/40 ZR 20 at the rear. A pneumatic mount which, combined with the all-wheel drive, allows this Porsche 911 Dakar to face all surfaces, from the sand of the dunes and deserts to the ice and snow of the frozen territories of the Far North.
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Top-flight performance
The Porsche 911 Dakar does not sacrifice performance for adventure and versatility. Under the hood of the German GT, the flat 6 3.0 biturbo of 480 hp and 570 Nm, associated with the robotic 8-speed PDK gearbox allows the 911 Dakar to go from 0 to 100 km / h in 3.4 s despite the all-terrain tires. Only limit, the top speed is limited to 240 km / h, or even 170 km / h when the suspension is set to the highest. The latter lowers automatically if this speed is exceeded.
Agility is ensured by all-wheel drive combined with four-wheel steering. The Porsche 911 Dakar also benefits from the engine mounts of the 911 GT3 and PDCC roll stabilization to be as effective and fun on sand, snow and ice as it is on the twists and turns of the Nordschleife. A Porsche 911 must remain a 911. To the classic driving modes, Porsche adds two specific to evolutions outside asphalt roads: Rally mode and All Terrain mode. The first is ideal for loose and uneven surfaces and has rear-wheel-drive all-wheel drive, while the second is designed for maximum traction on difficult terrain and on sand and automatically activates the increased ground clearance. Both modes allow the use of Rally Launch Control, for more efficient acceleration on loose surfaces and optimized slides by allowing approximately 20% wheel spin.
Lighter than an SUV
The Porsche 911 Dakar has the ambition to offer the capabilities of an SUV but with the pleasure of a real high-ranking sports car. It achieves this thanks to a mass limited to 1605 kg, only 10 more than a Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS PDK. A relative lightness obtained thanks to the use of CFRP for certain bodywork elements, sports bucket seats, lighter windows and battery and the removal of the rear bench seat.
Rally look
Apart from its higher ground clearance, the Porsche 911 Dakar can be distinguished from a normal 911 by the bright red tow rings at the front and rear, wider wheel arches and side skirts, a fixed rear spoiler specific, made of CFRP, like the front bonnet which takes up the ventilation openings of the 911 GT3. Protection of the bodywork is ensured by the stainless steel protective elements on the front, rear and side sills, while the side air intakes of the front bumper have a specific design and incorporate stainless steel grilles.
But Porsche really wants to allow owners of the 911 Dakar to go on an adventure in all conditions. It will therefore be possible for them to add optional additional spotlights on the roof as well as a stainless steel gallery with a capacity of 42 kg. To power the roof lights, a 12 V socket is integrated in the roof. The gallery can accommodate fuel and water canisters, folding shovels and traction boards, even a roof tent.
The passenger compartment is dressed in Race-Tex as standard with decorative stitching in Shade Green and can accommodate the Porsche chronograph. As an option, the Design Rally pack and the Rallye Sport pack offer a livery inspired by the 911 that won the 1984 Paris-Dakar and a set consisting of a roll bar, six-point seat belts and a fire extinguisher.
Limited series
Becoming the owner of a Porsche 911 Dalar will not be accessible to everyone. Not only is the starting ticket set at €250,207.59 including tax, but you won’t have to delay submitting your order since it will be a limited edition of 2,500 copies.
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