The new Porsche 911 Dakar will bring back memories of the 953 that entered and won the Paris – Dakar Rally in 1984. That impressive achievement also saw the birth of all-wheel drive in the 911, not for off-road adventures but for even better on-road performance.
Now Porsche pays tribute to that Dakar winner with a limited edition 911 Dakar which will make its global debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show soon. Limited to only 2,500 units, the 911 Dakar will also be available with an optional Rallye Design Package, reminiscent of that iconic winning car. Each unit will be priced from US$223,450 (about RM1.02 million) in the US market.
Ground clearance to rival SUVs
The first striking detail of the 911 Dakar is its ground clearance, which is 50 mm higher than that of a 911 Carrera with sports suspension. The front and rear ends can rise another 30 mm with the standard lift, giving it ground clearance and ramp angles that rival those of conventional SUVs.
The lift system is not only used to slowly cross obstacles but is an integral part of the retuned chassis. The ‘high level’ setting is available for ambitious off-road adventures at speeds of up to 170 km/h. Above that speed, the car automatically lowers to its normal level for stability and aerodynamics.
Complementing the car’s off-road attributes are specially developed Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus tyres (245/45 ZR 19 at the front, 295/40 ZR 20 at the rear). The tread pattern has blocks that are 9 mm deep, with reinforced sidewalls and treads consisting of 2 carcass plies. This ensures that the tyres are highly cut-resistant and able to take challenging terrain.
Commanding power on all surfaces
The 3-litre biturbo 6-cylinder engine with 480 ps/570 Nm generates that compelling boxer sound familiar to Porsches. The sportscar can sprint to 100 km/h in a claimed 3.4 seconds but for safety (due to the all-terrain tyres), the top speed is limited to 240 km/h.4
As standard, the engine is coupled to an 8-speed PDK and Porsche all-wheel drive. The standard equipment also includes rear-axle steering, engine mounts from the 911 GT3, and PDCC anti-roll stabilisation. These components give the 911 Dakar dynamic performance on sand and loose surfaces as well as on high-speed circuits like the Nurburgring Nordschleife.
Maximum off-road performance is also available with 2 new driving modes. Rallye mode is optimised for loose, uneven surfaces with rear-focused all-wheel drive. In Offroad mode, the high clearance is activated automatically and this mode is programmed for maximum traction on difficult terrain and on sand. Both of the driving modes also have the new Rallye Launch Control which enables powerful acceleration on loose surfaces and allows wheel slippage of around 20%.
Options for off-road image
The 911 Dakar has a the newly developed, fixed lightweight rear spoiler made of CFRP, and the CFRP front luggage compartment lid with striking air outlets taken from the 911 GT3. There are also standard off-road details such as the red aluminium towing lugs at the front and back, the widened wheel wells and sills, and stainless steel protective elements on the front, rear and side sills. The side air intakes on the redesigned front end are also protected against flying rocks by stainless steel grilles.
The roof incorporates a visible 12V power outlet for the auxiliary lights on the optional roof rack. With a capacity of 42 kgs, the rack can accommodate off-road equipment such as fuel and water canisters, folding shovels and traction boards. A roof tent has also been developed for the model.
Within the 911 Dakar, the sporty feel is provided by standard full bucket seats but there are no rear seats. Lightweight glass and a lightweight battery reduce the weight further, which has been brought down 1,605 kgs – 10 kgs heavier than the 911 Carrera 4 GTS with PDK – even with the extra features.
A defining feature of the interior is the standard Race-Tex surfaces with decorative stitching in Shade Green, which is also exclusively available as a metallic exterior finish for the 911 Dakar. The Rallye Sport Package with roll-over bar, 6-point seatbelts and fire extinguisher is optional.
The Rallye Design Package
At the heart of the optional Rallye Design Package from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur is a 2-tone paint finish in White/Gentian Blue Metallic (which mimics the Rothmans colours that the factory team had on the 1984 car). This is the first time that Porsche has offered the combination of bi-colour paint and decorative foiling in a production model. On the sides, the customer can choose an individual race number between 0 and 999.
In addition to the rally stripes in red and gold, the 911 Dakar with Rallye Design Package (which has its appearance based on the winning car of the 1984 event) also bears the ‘Roughroads’ lettering on the doors. The term is a registered trademark and reflects the concept of the 911 Dakar and its suitability for driving off-road.
