New 2023 Porsche 911 992 Safari or Dakar

Porsche has revealed a new Dakar special edition commemorating the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally. 911. 2,500 models are being made.



Porsche is celebrating a very special world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show – the new Porsche 911 Dakar, which feels equally at home on loose surfaces as it does on country roads.

The exclusive model limited to 2,500 units globally demonstrates that the concept of the Porsche 911 knows almost no boundaries. It harks back to the first overall Porsche victory at the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally – which also represents the first use of the all-wheel drive system in a Porsche 911. To commemorate this achievement, the new 911 Dakar will be offered with an optional Rallye Design Package inspired by the iconic winning car of 1984.

Standing tall, sliding sideways
The first thing that immediately stands out on the Porsche 911 Dakar is its ride height: It is 50 millimeters higher than on a 911 Carrera model with Sport Suspension. In addition to this, the standard lift system can raise the front and rear of the car by an additional 30 mm – achieving a level of ride height and ramp-over angles similar to conventional SUVs. The lift system is not only designed to help clear obstacles at low speeds, but is also an integral component of the newly calibrated suspension. The “High Level” setting is usable at up to approximately 105 mph for spirited off-road driving. Above this speed, the car returns to its normal ride height.

Specially developed Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires, measuring 245/45 ZR 19 in front and 295/40 ZR 20 at the rear complement the especially sporty off-road appearance of the new model. The off-road focused tread pattern has a depth of nine millimeters, the reinforced sidewalls and tread have dual carcasses, making them suitable for off-road excursions and more resistant to sidewall damage. Summer performance tires and snow tires from the Pirelli P Zero tire family are optionally available, and also feature dual carcass layers, but the new all-terrain tires are standard equipment.

Powerful engine for all surfaces
The 3.0-liter twin-turbo Boxer engine makes 473 hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque and delivers commanding performance accompanied by the unmistakable Boxer engine sound. The new 911 Dakar accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds, the top track speed is limited to 150 mph due to the higher cross-section of the all-terrain tires.

The engine is paired with an eight-speed PDK and Porsche Traction Management (PTM) all-wheel drive. Rear-axle steering, engine mounts adopted from the 911 GT3 and the body roll reducing Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) system are also standard equipment. The interplay of all these components enables the 911 Dakar to tackle sand and loose gravel especially well. Two new drive modes – Rallye Mode and Off-Road Mode – offer the excellent off-road performance that can be activated using the mode switch on the steering wheel. Rallye Mode is programmed for loose, uneven surfaces and biases power to the rear axle. In Off-Road Mode, which is focused on maximizing traction on sand and in rough terrain, the “High Level” ride height is automatically engaged. A new Rallye Launch Control mode was developed specially for this model and is available in both model-specific drive modes. It enables impressive acceleration on loose surfaces and allows wheel spin of up to 20 percent.

Optional roof basket and tent
The 911 Dakar also features a fixed rear spoiler, and a hood made of CFRP, of which the latter is taken from the 911 GT3, with large openings designed to extract air. Red front and rear tow hooks made of forged aluminum, flared fender arches and rocker panels contribute to the off-road appearance as do stainless steel body elements on the front and rear fascia and side skirts. The side air intakes in the newly designed front fascia also have stainless steel mesh grilles to rocks and other damaging objects from entering.

The roof of the 911 Dakar is equipped with a 12-volt-socket for the headlights of the optional roof basket. It can hold up to 92 lbs. of equipment such as spare gas and water canisters, folding shovels and recovery boards. A roof tent is available for the 911 Dakar as well.

The interior of the 911 Dakar underscores the performance-oriented nature of the car with standard Full Bucket Seats and deleted rear seats. Lightweight glass also helps save mass so that the 911 Dakar has a curb weight of 3,552 lbs. - just 16 lbs. more than a 911 Carrera 4 GTS with PDK.

Another Dakar-specific detail is the standard Race-Tex upholstery with decorative stitching in Shade Green, which is exclusive to the 911 Dakar as an exterior paint color.

Rallye Design Package harks back to Dakar winner of 1984
The optional Rallye Design Package starts with a two-tone paint consisting of White and Gentian Blue Metallic. This also represents the first time that Porsche is combining a two-tone paint color with decorative livery. Customers can opt for a start number on the side of the car between “0” and “999.”

Porsche Design Chronograph
Customers of the 911 Dakar can order an exclusive Porsche Design Chronograph 1 ‒ 911 Dakar or the Chronograph 1 ‒ 911 Dakar Rallye Design Edition. For the first time, the housing is made of particularly light and scratch resistant titanium carbide.

Info
The Porsche 911 Dakar is expected to begin arriving in U.S. dealers in Spring 2023, with a starting MSRP of $222,000 excluding $1,450 for delivery, processing and handling

Porsche is going to be offering three Rallye Design Packages for the 911 Dakar based on historic Porsche rally liveries.

Atlanta. The rally history of the Porsche 911 well away from paved roads began before the first victory in the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1984. Early forays in the East African Safari Rally in the 1970s remain a strong memory. While the styling of the optional Rallye Design Package for the 911 Dakar draws heavily on the winning car of 1984, Porsche offers three exclusive wraps for the 911 Dakar that reprise the look of the 1971, 1974, and 1978 entrants in the East African Safari Rally.

Rallye 1971: fifth place for Polish 911 team

This event took participants more than 3,100 miles through the savannahs, desert scrubland and the highlands of Kenya and is regarded as one of the toughest rallies of all. Porsche undertook the challenge for the first time with a works team in 1971. Outwardly, the modified 911 S models were only identifiable by the simple black decals on the hood, the front fenders and the doors. The Rallye 1971 decal set for the 911 Dakar revisits this design and adds the competition number 19, which belonged to the most successful 911 in this rally – a car that came fifth in 1971, driven by Polish drivers Sobiesław Zasada and Marian Bień. The decal set can be ordered from the factory as an option for $5,260.

Rallye 1974: Björn Waldegård enters the fray

The East African Safari Rally featured incredibly long stages – in 1974, the race was divided into three sections of 900 to 1,255 miles, which the teams had to complete in just five days. Of the 99 cars that entered, only 16 made it to the finish line. Swedish rally champion Björn Waldegård, who had already won the Rallye Monte Carlo twice in a Porsche, held the lead for a long while alongside co-driver Hans Thorszelius in the 911 Carrera 2.7 RS and started the third section with a 36-minute gap on second place. But a damaged wishbone cost him 72 minutes, and in the end Waldegård held on to finish second. Characteristic of the decals of the main sponsor were the blue stripes that traced the shoulder lines of the otherwise white car. The current wrap takes up this theme, albeit with narrower stripes and augmented by the Porsche logo on the lower edges of the doors. The Rallye 1974 decal set is available from the fac-tory as an option for $5,260.

Rallye 1978: the legendary racing design

Björn Waldegård wasn’t finished. With one of two 911 SC Group 4 cars custom built for the purpose, the Swede gave it another go in Kenya and quickly showed the competition that he was set on victory. In the end, however, the East African Safari Rally would again prove treacherous: wishbone, shock absorber, drive shaft – Waldegård’s Porsche sustained too much damage, in some cases far away from helping hands. The quick Swede had to be content with fourth place, while the South African duo of Vic Preston Jr. and John Lyall took second. The sponsor’s decals consisted of wave-shaped surfaces in orange and light and dark grey, familiar around the world thanks to the activities of the Martini Racing Team founded in 1958. Once again, Porsche designers have respectfully reinterpreted the historic decals here. The competition number 14 on the doors was that of second-placed Vic Preston Jr. The Rallye 1978 decal set is only available as an option from the factory for $7,510.

All decal sets can be ordered from the factory via the Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur. The Rallye 1971 and Rallye 1974 decal sets can also be ordered later via Porsche Tequipment at authorized Porsche dealerships.