Porsche’s motorsport dominance isn’t limited to the racetrack. Since the early days of the company, its products have also excelled at the arduous art of rallying. At this year’s LA Auto Show, the company has finally returned to this heritage, perhaps spurred on by a number of independent ventures into more rugged, go-anywhere Porsche conversions.
The new Porsche 911 Dakar will be limited to just 2,500 cars. Directly inspired by the 911 that triumphed in the gruelling Paris-Dakar Rally in 1984 (actually known as the Porsche 953), the new model is available in both a conventional paint job as well as a ‘Rallye Design Package’ mimicking the original car’s appearance.
Porsche’s involvement in the Paris-Dakar not only gave rise to the introduction of four-wheel-drive to the 911 range, but also birthed the 959 supercar, which arrived on the scene two years after the victory, originally to target the wild performance machines in Group B rally racing. Four-wheel drive is now available across the 911 range, as well as forming the core of Porsche’s SUVs, the Porsche Macan and the Cayenne.
The 911 Dakar is immediately distinct from its road-focused siblings by the raised ride height, which sits at 50mm more than a 911 Carrera. The car can also be raised an additional 30mm for even more ground clearance – and it can be driven at speeds of up to 170km/h at this height.
Power comes from a three-litre biturbo six-cylinder engine, pushing out 480 PS and capable of reaching 100km/h in 3.4 seconds. The special rugged all-terrain tyres limited top speed to 240 km/h.
At the rear, the 911’s pop-up spoiler has been replaced with a fixed carbon-fibre reinforced plastic version, and there’s a new CFRP front luggage compartment cover with deep air inlets just like the ultimate 911, the GT3.
Optional extras include a roof basket for those all-important rally tools like shovels and traction boards, and there’s even an optional roof tent. The Porsche Design team has also come up with a matching chronograph for total completists.
The Rallye Design Package has a two-tone paint finish in White/Gentian Blue Metallic, a colour combo that – it should be noted – originated with Rothmans International, the British tobacco manufacturer (‘the greatest name in cigarettes’) that bankrolled Porsche back in the 1980s. The company has thoughtfully adapted the forbidden and defunct logo into the word ‘Roughroads’, and you can also specify the race number of your choice.
Porsche 911 Dakar, from £173,000, Porsche.com
-
A new photo book takes you behind the scenes of some of cinema's most beloved films, from 'Fargo' to 'Charlie's Angels'Set decorator Lauri Gaffin captures Hollywood's quieter moments in an arresting new book
-
This sculptural London seafood restaurant was shaped by ‘the emotions of the sea’In Hanover Square, Mazarine pairs a bold, pearlescent interior with modern coastal cuisine led by ‘bistronomy’ pioneer chef Thierry Laborde
-
Nike pushes tech-assisted ways to just do it, from Project Amplify to a Mind Science DepartmentThe sporting giant is seeking new ways of amplifying athletic performance, both physical and mental. We explore the world of Project Amplify and the work of the company’s Mind Science Department
-
New Porsche Cayenne Electric makes a case for a sporting life with lashings of technologyThe next-gen Cayenne gets its first all-electric model, a mighty SUV that’s also the first Porsche with wireless charging
-
All the new electric cars and concepts revealed at Munich’s IAA Mobility 2025Munich’s alternative motorshow is now in its third iteration, combining a traditional exhibition space with a conference and large-scale public activations on the streets of the city
-
KAMManufaktur transforms the 1960s-era Porsche 912 into a refined restomod GTThe KAMM 912T is a restomod Porsche for the more discerning collector, a rebuilt and re-engineered car that favours analogue feel and simplicity over all-out power
-
All the best bits from Goodwood Festival of Speed 2025As car makers switch their allegiance to the sunny West Sussex countryside as a place to showcase their wares, a new generation of sports cars were sent running up that famous hill
-
This Porsche surfboard collaboration captures the spirit of 1970s Southern CaliforniaThe Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 is the inspiration for the company’s second collaboration with California’s Almond Surfboards, featuring a custom-made board and limited-edition apparel and accessories
-
‘Wundercar’ celebrates the ineffable aura of the Porsche 959, the first true hypercarCurated by London creatives INK, ‘Wundercar’ is a London exhibition dedicated to the image and influence of Porsche’s seminal 959, a true icon of 1980s engineering
-
The Porsche 911 Spirit 70 harks back to the aesthetic and ethos of the 1970sAs part of Porsche’s Heritage Design strategy, the company has launched a new special edition, the Porsche 911 Spirit 70 convertible
-
Rainer W. Schlegelmilch's Porsche photography showcases the aesthetics of speedTaschen's new edition of Rainer W. Schlegelmilch’s collected imagery from a quarter of a century spent following Porsche racing highlights historical machines, emotive camera technique and major moments on the track
