There seems to be no stopping Porsche and its expansion plans for the 911 lineup as the sports car portfolio continues to grow with time. Admittedly, the Dakar isn’t a permanent fixture as the Zuffenhausen house only builds 2,500 units. Developed to handle some light off-roading, the rear-engined engine has caught on during final testing in northern Europe. Since the reveal took place in November 2022, the camouflage is now all but gone.
Porsche was keen to show the lifted 911 in a two-tone paint finish that took 34 hours to complete and was part of the $28,470 Rallye Design Package that adds a few other tweaks. Additionally, the German automaker has prepared historic livery for its adventurous sports car, including a $7,510 Martini finish. If that’s too much for your liking, this test vehicle kept it simple with a plain silver body and black plastic cladding around the wheel arches.
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While the base 911 Dakar starts at $223,450 in the United States, tick every box in the list of options and you’re looking at over $270,000. Regardless of the specs, they all have the heart of the Carrera 4 GTS. That meant a 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six with 473 hp (353 kW) sent to both axles. It rides on bespoke Pirelli Scorpion all-terrain tires and has raised (+2 inches) suspension. There’s also a lift system that works at speeds of up to 105 mph (169 km/h) and adds an extra 1.2 inches for extra ground clearance.
There’s more to the 911 Dakar than just its elevated attitude as Porsche has embedded Off-Road and Rallye drive modes, a GT3-sourced engine mount and a CFRP hood, along with Rallye Launch Control and rear-wheel steering. Accessories include a roof awning and a cargo basket that holds 92 pounds (42 kilograms).
If the 911 Dakar proves to be a commercial success, Porsche says it will launch additional non-SUV models with suspension upgrades and off-road oriented upgrades.
