This is the Porsche 911 Dakar. Quite the oddball, right? Having been recently teased as a prototype as it scaled the highest volcano in the world, the German marque has officially unveiled its off-roading-ready 911 sports car at the Los Angeles Auto Show, just days after Lamborghini previewed its upcoming go-anywhere Huracán Sterrato.
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The 911 Dakar is not a mere publicity stunt, however. For Porsche, Paris-Dakar rallying is in its DNA, having won the 1984 race with its heavily-modified 911 that simultaneously gave way to the all-wheel-drive 911 platform that’s used in some of the automaker’s finest 911s, like the Turbo. As a result, this is why the car you see above is specced with the optional $26,000 USD “Rallye Design Package,” which draws inspiration from the 1984-winning machine.
But much more has been done to this car than just having it sport a retro paint job. From the reinforced bodywork and underpinnings to a carbon fiber roof (albeit another option) and a carbon-reinforced plastic front hood taken from the 911 GT3, to thinner glass, bucket seats, no rear seats, a fixed rear spoiler, and much much more, this 911 is sure to see you over any Dakar dune you hurtle towards at its limited 150 MPH top speed.
Ride height is up by 50mm and can be pushed another 30mm in “High Level” off-road mode, available at up to 105 MPH. This works in conjunction with specially developed Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires and a heavily-revised chassis to help it cope in these tough conditions.
Powering the 911 Dakar is a three-liter Biturbo six-cylinder with 473 HP and 420 lb-ft of torque, which is enough to push the car to 62 MPH from a standstill in just 3.4 seconds, despite the added bulk and tire constraints. This is because the signature PDK gearbox has been added, making gear changes silky smooth despite your surroundings juxtaposing this.
Plenty of options are available to tick, including a visible 12-volt power outlet for the headlights of the optional roof rack, a roof tent, the roll-over bar, six-point seat belts, and the fire extinguisher.
Only 2,500 units of the Porsche 911 Dakar are being built, starting from $220,020 USD before charges and fees.
