A Glorious Past
2023 Porsche 911 Dakar along with the classic Rothmans Dakar winner at the LA Auto Show
Restomodders have dreamed up the idea of reviving a Safari style Porsche with models like the Singer ACS and the 1968 Porsche 911 Syberia RS by H&R. Now, Porsche themselves are getting in on the action with this limited-run 911 Dakar. Porsche of course has a rich history in rallying and motorsport. The terrain that competitors cross during the rally is difficult and demanding, and the vehicles used are usually genuine off-road vehicles and motorcycles, not modified road cars. Most of the competitive special sections are off-road, traversing dunes, dirt, camel grass, rocks, and dirt, among others. The distance covered on each stage ranges up to 500-560 miles a day on terrain that tests endurance, dependability and driving skill.
The Off-Road Porsche 911 Dakar
Just the car for you to compete at the Paris-Dakar off-road Rallye, with bigger knobby tires, it rides roughly two inches higher off the ground than a normal 911. Like Porsche’s other models, its more exclusive 911s run on staggered wheel set -ups, with 19-inch rollers up front and 20 inches at the rear. The engineers behind the 911 Dakar have raided the Porsche parts warehouse, installing a carbon-fiber GT3 bonnet, Carrera Brakes, and the cooling system found on the 911 Turbo S. Porsche says that the 911 Dakar will reach 60 mph in 3.2 seconds.
To create the new 2023 911 Dakar, Porsche took the Carrera GTS’s engine and tweaked it slightly so that it would perform better for this off-roading application. Behind the rear axle is the 3.0-liter, 473-hp, twin-turbocharged flat-six borrowed from the 911 Carrera GTS, and its more exclusive 911 models are offered exclusively with Porsche’s eight-speed PDK automatic. The new car features the same 911 GTS transmission.
Porsche 911 Dakar is headed to the place where it belongs.
The Porsche 911 Dakar comes equipped with an uplift system, which raises the car over an inch and makes the 911 suitable for off-roading. The Porsche 911 Dakar can also be raised an extra inch for further ground clearance — and can reach speeds around 105 mph at this elevation. The 911 Dakar sports thick plastic bodywork over its wheel arches and has metal skid plates underneath its door panels to prevent paint chips from showing up after your first day of the rally.
The Rallye Design Package
A studio shot of a 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar along with the classic 80s Dakar winner
The equipment accessories available with the 911 Dakar, such as refueling containers, recovery boards, and other luggage, can be firmly secured into a strong aluminum roof bin, which is finished with Matte Black paint. If a stage goes on to the night, integrated LED assist lights illuminate the path across the desert. Both containers are fixed on a basket on top of the vehicle using a dedicated, easily opened container mount, ensuring that there is no loss of time during fueling.
Essential on soft surfaces like sand and dirt the strong gray plastic plate boards help with the recovery of the car in case of an obstacle and can be carried on top of the roof basket. If you are going to plunge into an infinite sea of desert, you have got to have the right gear. The folding spade that includes an ax and saw fits right in the rack on your roof, easy to reach for any adventure you decide to undertake.
A rear 3/4 shot of a 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar
The fixed rear spoiler on the back gives the car its classic profile, reminiscent of the winning 911 Dakar from the 80s. Forged aluminum tow hooks round the front and rear of the vehicle. To keep the engine from breathing in debris, many of the vents (integral to the 911’s bodywork) are all covered with stainless steel mesh.
Rally-Inspired Cockpit And Driving Modes
A shot of the interior in a 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar
Inside the Dakar, you’ll see Porsche’s signature Race-Tex leather substitute in a limited shade of green. That’s only on the front seats though, as the model includes a rear seat delete. The Sport Chrono package for the new 911 Dakar includes two extra performance settings: Rallye mode, which is used on gravel roads, dirt tracks, and wet grass; and Offroad mode, which is used on sandy dunes and rock passes. The new driving modes will help you conquer all sorts of terrain. Rallye launch control is also available, to provide excellent start-up on rally stages in loose terrain.
The Off-Road 911 Is A Limited-Run Model
A shot of the Porsche 911 Dakar at the Los Angeles Auto Show
The new Porsche 911 Dakar is expected to start arriving at US dealerships in spring 2023, at an initial MSRP of $222,000, not including $1,450 delivery, handling, and handling fees. The Porsche 911 Dakar is offered with either the regular paint scheme or a Rallye design package which emulates the look of the original winning car.
The optional $26,000 USD Rallye Design Package features the iconic white, red, gold, and blue livery of the Rothmans-sponsored Porsche 911 that won the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rallye, except the word “Rough Road” replaces the sponsor cigarettes used during that time . This is the first time that Porsche has implemented a combination of two-tone paint and decorative livery in a production model.