Porsche 911 Dakar 2023: ideal not just for Africa

The Porsche 911 is an iconic sports car model that has wowed car enthusiasts for many years. Throughout its long history, the 911 has undergone various modifications to adapt it to different sports. One such modification was the Porsche 911 Dakar, which was designed with off-road rallying in mind. The latest version of this iconic car premiered in 2023.

The Porsche 911 Dakar made its debut in 1984 at the famous Dakar Rally. Designed by the exceptionally talented engineer Roland Kussmaul, the car was prepared for the difficult terrain characteristic of off-road rallies.

More about the first ever Porsche 911 Dakar

The Porsche 911 Dakar was equipped with a powerful 3.2-litre boxer engine with 230 hp, which gave it high dynamics and excellent performance. The car was also equipped with damage protection systems such as special underbody guards and rock protection.

One of the most distinctive features of this car was the special suspension system, which provided excellent grip on difficult terrain. The suspension was modified in such a way that the car could cope with the rough roads and obstacles that are often found on rally courses.

The Porsche 911 Dakar proved to be a very successful car in off-road rallies. In 1984, on its debut at the Dakar Rally, the car finished 7th overall. The following year, the Porsche 911 Dakar already took second place overall, and in 1986 it managed to win first place.

Today, the Porsche 911 Dakar is considered an iconic sports car and is very popular among collectors. Even though the car was only produced for a few years, its unique design and distinctive features have stayed in the memory of car enthusiasts forever.

The brand new Porsche 911 Dakar

In 2023 Porsche premiered the new 911 Dakar, which is powered by a 3.0 biturbo engine with 480 hp. The maximum torque is 570 Nm. The performance of this unit is amazing: the car needs 3.4 seconds to accelerate to “100”; the top speed is 240 km/h, which is derived from the use of Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus all-terrain tyres with 9mm tread depth and special reinforcements.

To make this offroad car even more enjoyable, the ground clearance has been increased by 50 mm compared to a usual Carrera. What’s more, it can be increased by a further 30 mm if required. The Rallye Launch Control mode is responsible for acceleration on surfaces such as sand and allows for around 20 per cent wheel slip.

As the car follows on from a Dakar Rally participant and winner, it is available with the optional Rallye Design package, which includes a two-tone paint job in white and blue, a race number on the door panels, a safety cage at the rear, six-point belts and a fire extinguisher. Additional equipment also includes a roof basket with additional headlamps, a canister, traction mats, a folding shovel or a roof tent.

The GT’s steering wheel is covered in non-slip Race-Tex material. Also drawing attention in the cabin are the brushed aluminium trim in black and the limited edition badge on the passenger side. This is complemented by bucket seats made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP).

The price of this car, of which only 2,500 will be built, is PLN 1,189,000.