Porsche 911 Dakar Is an All-New Off-Road-Ready Monster
Porsche put the new off-road variant of its classic, the Porsche 911 Dakar, through its paces over the course of months and limitless terrains.
When many folks think of a Porsche 911, taking one offroad is likely the last thing they think of doing with one. However, Porsche rally cars of the past have proven time and time again that it’s more than just an option; it’s a great way to win. In addition, the Porsche 911 Safari models of the past prove that even with increased ride height and big tires, the 911’s nature for handling capability can still shine through. Now, the Porsche 911 Dakar is here to prove that claim still suits the 992 generation of 911s.
In a recent press release, Porsche unleashed a slew of photos detailing the intense testing that the 911 Dakar has gone through in the past handful of months. Let’s take a dive in and look at all the awesome information about this off-road warrior of a Porsche 911.
Dakar Name Comes With Serious Pedigree
While you’re likely familiar with the Dakar rally, a grueling off-road and multi-terrain endurance race that covers thousands of miles over weeks on end. However, you might not be familiar with Porsche’s association with Dakar.
In 1984, Porsche achieved its first overall victory at the Paris-Dakar rally in a purpose-built Porsche 911. This particular car was a significant step in the 911’s history as it was the very first one Porsche ever fitted with an all-wheel-drive system. Needless to say, then, the current Porsche 911 Dakar has some heritage to live up to. Certainly, Porsche was well aware of that fact during testing.
Porsche developers spent more than 6,000 miles behind the wheel testing the new Porsche 911 Dakar. All around the globe, from snowy conditions to the deserts of Dubai, Porsche put the new Dakar through its paces. In fact, Porsche even took the Dakar to the Château de Lastours test track to fine-tune its suspension. That’s a venue that has some serious rally heritage.
“All Dakar teams come here to test their cars in Europe before the rally. I knew what a 911 could do on the road, but I was absolutely stunned by how well the car performed here on loose surfaces,” said Porsche works driver Romain Dumas.
When the Porsche 911 Dakar hit the icy playgrounds of Sweden, two-time Rally champion Walter Röhrl got behind the wheel.
“The car is incredibly fun to drive,” he says. “Everything works so precisely and calmly,” said Röhrl.
Porsche will officially unveil the all-new Porsche 911 Dakar at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 16th at 7 PM. Until then, this photo set will have to keep us entertained!
Photos: Porsche