After showing off the first official images of its production-ready off-road sports car last week, Porsche has now finally debuted the highly-anticipated 911 Dakar. And while we already had a decent idea of the vehicle that the Stuttgart firm would be unveiling at the LA Auto Show, the company has nonetheless managed to blow us away, delivering a stunning go-anywhere 911 that’s hugely exceeded our expectations.
The 911 Dakar features a MacPherson-strut suspension setup up front and a multi-link unit in back — both of which are backed by antiroll bars. This steel suspension package allows for 6.3” of ground clearance — though the front and rear can also be raised or lowered an additional 1.18” using the car’s electronic lift kit. Also equipped with 19” front wheels and 20” rear rims that both come shod in Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires, the 911 Dakar sports approach, breakover, and departure angles of 14.2, 16.2, and 16.4 degrees, respectively. Powering this new Dakar variant is a 473-hp twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter straight six that allows for a 0-60mph time of 3.2 seconds — though its top speed has been limited to only 105mph.
Off-road upgrades on the go-anywhere sports car include stone guards for its rear axle wishbones, a special off-road mode, red aluminum tow lugs fore and aft, flared fenders at all four corners, widened sills, a stainless steel skid plate, redesigned side air intakes fortified behind stainless steel grilles, a new fixed lightweight rear spoiler design, and a front luggage compartment lid with air outlets — borrowed from the 911 GT3 — the latter two of which are both made from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic. The 911 Dakar is also offered with an available roof rack with a 92.5-pound capacity and a 12-volt power outlet for installing optional auxiliary lights. Porsche is also producing a wide range of optional off-road and overlanding accessories for the Dakar-spec 911 such as shovels, bags, and a rooftop tent. What’s more, Porsche is also producing a special Rallye Edition 911 Dakar that comes with a roll cage, six-point belts, an optional fire extinguisher, and a throwback paint scheme that pays homage to the iconic Rothmans livery worn by Porsche’s 1984 Dakar-winning 911.
Limited to only 2,500 units worldwide, the 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar starts at $222,000. Alongside the car, Porsche Design has also released a special 911 Dakar Chronograph 1 variant made from a new Titancarbid (titanium-carbide) construction.
