A modern recreation of the car that dominated the deserts.
Porsche has launched a new model the 911 Dakar, an off-road and rally equipped version that is designed as an homage for its predecesor, the 911 (type 953) 4×4 model that won the 1984 Paris-Dakar rally.
Debuted at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show, the car manufacturer sells only 2.500 units of this variant and it’s powered by a 3.0 liter flat six twin-turbo engine developing 473 HP (353 kW) and a torque 570 Nm. This means the 911 Dakar reaches a top speed of 240 km/h and goes from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds. The price of the car it’s between around $222.000 and $270.000 depending on the features, optionals and accessories.
As for the transmission, Porsche utilizes the automatic 8 speed double clutch PDK connected to AWD drivetrain. And for better off-road, the ground clearance is raised to 50mm but with the equpped lift system that it has, it can be raised 30mm more which means thanks to it’s retuned suspension the cars can run off-road up to speed of 170 km/h. Alongside the retunned chassis we can also find a rear-axle steering, Porsche has fitted the 911 Dakar with lightweight alloy forged rims sized 19 inch to the front and 20 inch to the rear. The tyres are Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus with 9 mm deep chunky tread patterns with 2 carcass plies and reinforced sidewalls. This gives good results on off-road terrains and asphalt as well.
The new Porsches are equipped with a Chrono Package, a feature that allows the engines to be fine tuned and enhances launch control with different drive modes such as Normal, Individual, Sport and Sport plus. But the 911 Dakar brings 2 new modes and those are Rally and Off-road modes that allows wheel slipping around to 20%. Off-road mode raises the ride height and makes the differential locking effect stiffer, good for traction on dunes, hard terrains and uneven ground. Rally mode it’s the rear biased all wheel drive, good for loose terrain.
Porsche 911 Dakar body it’s containing many off-road details: stainless steel protective elements on the front rear and sides, red aluminium towing eyes at the front and back, redesigned front end with stainless steel grills protecting the side air intakes, fixed lightweight rear spoiler made of Carbon-Fibre-Reinforced-Plastic or CFRP and front compartiment lid with air vents also made of CFRP.
And for the accessories and optionals, customers that own these cars can personalize them with sticker sets and racing numbers from 0 to 999, can also access the Rallye Design Package, a package that provides the car with a paint scheme that gives a tribute to the Porsche 911 of the 80s that won the legendary Dakar rally. Other optional accessories are: a roof basket for payload of 42 kg with auxiliary headlighs, 10L fuel canister, recovery boards, folding shovel and even a roof two-person fold-out tent with a ladder, a mattress, anti-theft and storm protection with a maximum load of 140 kg.
