At the Los Angeles Auto Show (–27.11.), Porsche unveiled the 911 Dakar as a world premiere. The model, limited to 2,500 units, also commemorates the brand’s first overall victory at the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1984, which also marked the birth of all-wheel drive in the Porsche 911. The Dakar is therefore optionally available with a design package that is reminiscent of the winning car from back then.
The Dakar has five centimeters more ground clearance than a
911 Carrera with sports suspension. In addition, the standard lift system can raise the front and rear end by a further 30 millimeters. The ground clearance and ramp angle thus reach the level of classic SUVs. The lift system is not only used for slowly crossing obstacles, but is an integral part of the newly tuned chassis. The “high level” setting of the lift system works off-road up to a speed of 170 km/h; the chassis lowers once more automatically at higher speeds.
The sports car is powered by a three-liter biturbo six-cylinder with 480 hp (353 kW) and up to 570 Newton meters of torque. The Dakar accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. The top speed is limited to 240 km/h due to the all-terrain tires.
The engine is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive as standard. There is also rear axle steering, engine mounts from the GT3 and roll stabilization. The off-road driving supports two new driving modes, which can be selected with the rotary switch on the steering wheel. The “Rallye” setting is suitable for loose, uneven ground, with all-wheel drive designed to be particularly rear-heavy. In “Offroad” mode, the high level is automatically activated. This mode is designed for maximum traction in rough terrain and sand. In both cases, the new Rally Launch Control can be switched on with around 20 percent wheel slip.
The Porsche 911 Dakar has a fixed lightweight rear spoiler made of carbon and the CFRP front hood taken from the 911 GT3 with distinctive air vents. There are also red recovery eyelets made of forged aluminum, wider wheel arches and rocker panels, and protective elements on the front, rear and rocker panels. In addition, the side air inlets on the newly designed front are protected from stone chips with stainless steel grilles.
A roof basket for accessories such as additional headlights, petrol and water canisters, folding spades and recovery boards can be ordered as an option. A roof tent is also available.
The 911 Dakar is equipped with full bucket seats and does without rear seats. The lightweight glazing and a lightweight battery further reduce the weight, so that at 1605 kilograms the car is only ten kilograms heavier than a 911 Carrera 4 GTS with dual-clutch transmission. The rally sports package with a roll bar, six-point seat belts and fire extinguisher is available as an option.
The rally design package, which is also available on request and has the look of the winning car from 1984, comes with a two-tone paint finish in white/gentian blue metallic and foiling, for which the customer can choose a start number between “0” and “999”. The historic cigarette brand lettering “Rothmans” is replaced by the word “Roughroads”.
Porsche demands 222,020 euros for the 911 Dakar. The design package costs 26,061 euros. On request, customers can also order an exclusive chronograph with a case made of particularly scratch-resistant and light titanium carbide. (awm)
