The Porsche 911 Dakar Is Coming To Take An Icon Off-Road

The Porsche 911 is a historic car and it is widely known as not only one of the most important vehicles ever made but is considered by some to be flat-out one of the best cars ever produced by any automaker. Since the model's debut in 1964, Porsche has been continually updating the 911 and tweaking it over the decades. The 911's iconic silhouette hasn't changed too drastically over the almost 60 years the car has been around, and the engine has remained firmly behind the driver.

Typically, the Porsche 911 is most at home on the track or showing off while driving down the highway. The Porsche 911 GT3 is a group of automotive superlatives wrapped in sheet metal and will gladly tear up any racing circuit. In the past, Porsche has outfitted a few 911s for off-road use, most notably for the arduous Paris to Dakar Rally in 1984. But most 911s are firmly on the pavement. That was until Porsche unveiled its newest project: the Porsche 911 Dakar. 

According to a press release from Porsche, the 911 Dakar was pushed to its absolute limit over 6,000 miles of testing on the toughest terrain the world has to offer, including frozen lakes in Sweden, sand dunes in the Sahara Desert, and test tracks in France. Frank Moser, the VP of the 911 product line says of desert driving: "Especially here, the 911 Dakar can make the most of its conceptual advantages — the combination of low weight, higher ground clearance, a powerful rear-mounted engine, and the short wheelbase make for an exhilarating driving experience." Porsche says the new 911 model is a tribute to purpose-built rally Porsches from the past.

Porsche

The 911 Dakar is a huge departure from the road-focused production 911s from the past. Porsche has done its best at turning the 911 into not only a rally fighter but also a serious off-roader. On the outside, the newest 911 variant looks like it took styling cues from a Jeep or a lifted truck with its big, aggressive tires and suspension lift. Press images depict the 911 kitted out with a likely optional roof rack for carrying all your rally gear and spare tires, as well as extra lights for courses where light may be scarce.

Porsche

Porsche will unveil the model in its full glory at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 16^th. Pricing has not been revealed but given the 911's base price of over $106,000, and Porsche's love of optional extras, it won't be even remotely cheap.