Porsche has unveiled a new limited edition of the 911 sports car. The 911 Dakar edition will be limited to just 2,500 units and will be capable both on and off the road.
Design of the Porsche 911 Dakar
The Porsche 911 Dakar is a significantly reworked version of the Porsche 911. It gets a higher ground clearance, a lift-system that can raise the suspension and special off-road tyres. It also gets a choice of a roof tent or a roof basket.
The 911 Dakar pays homage to the first overall victory of Porsche in the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally. It was also the year when the Porsche 911 got an all-wheel-drive system. This is also one of the reasons why the 911 Dakar is offered with the Rallye Design Package.
The car sits 50 mm higher than a Carerra with a sports suspension. Further, the lift system can raise the car an additional 30mm at both ends. At the highest settings, the system can be used at speeds up to 170 km/h, post which the car automatically lowers.
For tyres, Pirelli has specially developed the Scorpio All Terrain Plus tyres for the car. The front ones are 245/45 ZR 19, while the rear ones are 295/40 ZR 20. The tread depth is 9 mm, the sidewalls are reinforced, and the threads consist of two carcass plies. These tyres are highly cut-resistant. While these are standard, Pirelli P Zero summer and winter tyres are available as an option.
Other additions on the 911 Dakar include the lightweight rear spoiler made of CFRP and the CFRP front luggage compartment lid, red aluminium towing lugs at both ends, widened wheel wells and sills, as well as the stainless steel protective elements on the front, rear and side sills. The side air intakes get steel mesh to protect them from flying debris like rocks.
Powertrain of the Porsche 911 Dakar
The 3.0-litre Biturbo, 6-cylinder unit produces 480 PS of power and 570 Nm of peak torque. The company claims a 0-100 km/h time of 3.4 seconds with a top speed restricted to 240 km/h due to the all-terrain tyres. Power is sent to all the four wheels via an 8-speed PDK (dual clutch) gearbox. The car also gets two new driving modes – Rallye and Off-road. The Rallye mode is suitable for loose, uneven surfaces and features rear-focused all-wheel drive, while the Off-road mode is designed for maximum traction on rugged terrain and on the sand. Both new modes also come with Rallye Launch Control that enables fast acceleration of loose surfaces. It allows up to 20 per cent of wheel slip.
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