Porsche chose the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show to make its 911 rally-themed debut. Named the Dakar, it pays homage to the company’s heritage in off-road racing, and is even available with a special two-tone exterior finish in a classic style. Rothman uniform. Turns out, that paint job is it right special, not only in appearance but also in the way it is applied to cars.
Speaking to Porsche at the LA Auto Show, we learned that it takes a total of around 34 hours to complete the two-tone treatment. It is part of the Rallye Design Package, and also includes the extensive striping handled by Porsche Exclusive Manufacturing.
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It all started with the 911 body painted white, which was spray-painted with clear paint and sanded. The car was camouflaged and primed for an initial coat of Gentian Blue Metallic paint, which was applied manually. Once everything is dry, the masking is removed and the first of two additional coats of clear coat is applied. According to Porsche, this is a process of about 7.5 hours.
Once everything is dry, the Dakar’s 911 body is sent to the production line for assembly, but that’s not the end of the dedicated process. The finished 911 is then sent to Porsche Exclusive Manufacturing for the foiling process. This required partial disassembly of the body, adding another 8.5 hours to the process. Once the car is put back together, it is subjected to a final inspection and then closed for transport to the dealer.
The retrotastic exterior is a highlight of the Rallye Design Package, which adds a hefty $28,470 to the 911 Dakar’s $223,450 base price. The package also includes black seats with Shark Blue seat belts and Ceramica trim, though we suspect most of the cost went to the elaborate paint job.
Of course, the 911 Dakar doesn’t just look like a classic Safari machine. Porsche retuned the suspension and added two inches of lift, which increased to more than three inches when the electronic lift system was activated. It rides on Pirelli Scorpion all-terrain tires specially built for the 911 Dakar, and around the back, you’ll find the same 473 horsepower twin-turbocharged flat-six engine used in the 911 GTS.
See more of the 911 Dakar and other recent LA Auto Show debuts here Rambling About Cars podcast, available below.
