PORSCHE IS HEADED TO DAKAR FOR A SECOND TIME
The Porsche 911 Dakar was one heck of a move for the German automaker. Taking the Subaru Outback route with the 911 sports car while embracing not just Porsche's own heritage but a hot trend that was just starting to catch on let Stuttgart sell out a big-dollar model almost instantly. The car itself, a lifted and off-road capable 911, was pretty cool too, with the exception of the incredibly cringe knockoff livery of Rothman's cigarettes.
2024 Porsche 911 Dakar
A new report from Autocar says that Porsche is planning a new 911 Dakar. This time, it will offer even better off-road performance, but it will also add some green driving features to go with green lane capability. This one will be based on the 911's innovative new T-Hybrid powertrain.
New Dakar Will Get More Power In This Generation
Autocar reported that senior sources have confirmed the development of a new and upgraded 911 Dakar at the automaker's Weissach engineering center. The plan is to reveal it as part of the 992-series facelift, with it likely to make its first appearance later this year.
Porsche, of course, wouldn't confirm the report, saying, "Porsche does not comment on speculation on its products." It's the usual answer, though if Porsche wasn't planning anything, we might have heard an outright "no."
At Least One Owner Is Actually Using Their 911 Dakar
This 911 Dakar has gone places no Porsche has ever been.
The old Dakar got a 2.0-inch lift and longer-travel suspension, offering up to 7.5-inches of clearance. It had special Pirelli all-terrain tires, came with AWD and an eight-speed automatic, and it used the 3.0-liter flat-six from the 911 GTS making 473 horsepower.
Now that the GTS has a new engine, a new Dakar would likely use that. Instead of 3.0 liters, it's now 3.6. It's still turbocharged, and it has a small electric motor adding 53 hp to the engine's 478 ponies for a total of 532. The total is 59 hp more than the last GTS, for the record. It should also help reduce the car's fuel use when you don't have your foot on the floor.
This Dakar Could Cost A Quarter-Million
The last Dakar had a starting price of $222,000 and Porsche built just 2,500 for the world. A new one will probably end up with a starting price closer to $250,000, but with flippers fetching well over $300,000 for low-mileage versions of the old one, Porsche could ask for even more. Don't forget how much the 992.2 911 GT3 now costs. With all the options, that starts knocking on the door of $400,000.
Greatest Porsche 911 Special Edition Models
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As far as enhanced capability, we're not sure what Porsche could deliver here. A taller ride height could lead to better off-road performance at the expense of on-pavement handling. It could also end up with active adjustable suspension height settings. Whatever Porsche's plan for a 992.2 911 Dakar, we're sure it will sell out faster than a sandstorm.
2025-02-12T05:57:53ZSource:Autocar