The Porsche 911 Dakar evokes the first overall victory by Porsche in the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally, which was simultaneously the birth of all-wheel drive in the Porsche 911. This is why the new 911 Dakar is also offered with an optional Rallye Design Package, reminiscent of that iconic winning car.
Porsche is celebrating the new retro-inspired world premiere of the limited-edition Dakar model at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Porsche says the new 911 Dakar not only shows that there are hardly any limits to the concept of the Porsche 911. It also evokes the first overall victory by Porsche in the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally, which was simultaneously the birth of all-wheel drive in the Porsche 911.
This is why the new 911 Dakar, which will be strictly limited to 2,500 units worldwide, is also offered with an optional Rallye Design Package, reminiscent of that iconic winning car.
The first detail of the Porsche 911 Dakar that strikes the viewer is its ground clearance, which is 50mm higher than that of a 911 Carrera with sports suspension. And the standard lift system can raise the front and rear ends an additional 30mm. The car’s ground clearance and ramp-over angle 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 170km/h. Above that speed, the car automatically lowers back down to its normal level.
Complementing the car’s sporty off-road attributes are specially developed Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tyres (sized 245/45 ZR 19 at the front and 295/40 ZR 20 at the rear). The chunky tread pattern is nine millimetres deep and the reinforced sidewalls and the threads consist of two carcass plies.
All this makes the tyres of the Porsche 911 Dakar ideal even for challenging terrain. Pirelli P Zero summer and winter tyres are available as an option, also with two carcass plies. But the all-terrain tyres come as standard and offer sports car dynamics on the road as well.
The three-litre biturbo six-cylinder with 353kW and maximum torque of 570Nm delivers superior performance with a compelling boxer sound. The new sports car sprints to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds; due to the all-terrain tyres the top speed is limited to 240km/h.
As standard, the engine comes with an eight-speed PDK and Porsche all-wheel drive. The standard equipment also includes rear-axle steering, the engine mounts from the 911 GT3, and PDCC anti-roll stabilisation. Porsche says that the interplay of all the components results in the 911 Dakar being just as dynamic on sand and loose surfaces as it is on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Maximum off-road performance is also ensured by two new driving modes, which can be selected using the rotary switch on the steering wheel. ‘Rallye’ mode is ideal for loose, uneven surfaces and features rear-focused all-wheel drive. In ‘Offroad’ mode the high clearance is activated automatically. This mode is designed for maximum traction on difficult terrain and on sand. Both new driving modes also feature the new Rallye Launch Control, which enables impressive acceleration on loose surfaces and allows wheel slippage of around 20%.
Additional characteristic features of the 911 Dakar include 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 the 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 of the Porsche 911 Dakar features a visible 12-volt power outlet for the headlights of the optional roof rack. With a capacity of 42kg, the rack can accommodate rallying equipment such as fuel and water canisters, folding shovels and traction boards without any problems. A roof tent is also available for the 911 Dakar.
In the interior, the 911 Dakar underscores its sporting ambitions with standard full bucket seats and the omission of the rear seats. Lightweight glass and a lightweight battery reduce its weight further, enabling the Porsche 911 Dakar to weigh in at just 1,605kg – a mere 10kg heavier than the 911 Carrera 4 GTS with PDK.
A defining feature of the Dakar 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, six-point seat belts and fire extinguisher is optional.
At the heart of the optional Rallye Design Package from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur is a two-tone paint finish in White/Gentian Blue Metallic. This is the first time that Porsche has implemented the combination of bi-colour paint and decorative foiling in series production. On the side of the vehicle, 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, whose appearance is based on the winning vehicle of the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally, 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.
The white-painted rims and the red taillight strip, in contrast to the standard vehicle, round off the distinctive appearance. Further highlights can be found in the interior: Extended Race-Tex and leather surrounds as well as seat belts and accents in Sharkblue.
