Is the Porsche 911 Dakar a Real Off-Roader?
Forty years ago, Porsche upgraded a 911 3.2 for competition in one of the world’s most gruelling races – the Dakar Rally. Designed to conquer any terrain, the all-wheel drive 911 didn’t just compete, it won.
For the 2024 model year, Porsche is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the victory with a new 911 model, fittingly named the Dakar. As a tribute to the legend, many wonder if the new 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar is just an appearance package, or a truly capable off-roader.
The quick is yes, it has the substance to back up the Dakar name and isn’t afraid to leave the pavement. Below we highlight the reasons why.
Suspension Upgrades
The 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar sits 1.96-inches (50 millimeters) higher than on a regular 911 Carrera. For even larger obstacles, it’s possible to raise the suspension another 1.18-inches (30 mm). This might not sound like a big gain, but it doubles the 911’s ground clearance, putting it over six-inches in total. This allows it to travel places regular 911s dare not go. When set to its maximum height, the car can still drive upwards of 105 mph.
Like many 911 models, the Dakar includes the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) system that's programmed to minimize body roll. But with the Dakar, it also assists while driving on surfaces like sand or mud.
Drivetrain Upgrades
All Dakar models come the same engine as found in the 911 GTS. It’s a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder that develops 473 hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. Power is sent to all four-wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automated transmission.
To handle the abuse of off roading, the 911 Dakar comes with stronger engine mounts. To tackle trickier conditions, there is rear axle steering and the new Rallye and Off-Road drive modes. These use the suspension, drivetrain, and brakes to maximize performance on loose and/or rough terrains.
A new Rallye Launch Control is also included for maximum acceleration on loose surfaces. In this mode, the 911 Dakar can spin its wheels on launch up to 20 percent more than the standard launch control.
And Those Tires
The biggest asset to the Porsche 911 Dakar may be its tires though. Standard are Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires. They measure 245/45R19 up front and 295/40R20 at the rear. Despite the low profile, the Scorpions are true A/T tires.
They feature a knobby tread pattern that measures 9 mm in depth. The numerous sipes, ridges and blocks are designed for off-road conditions like sand, mud, and rocks. The Pirellis also have reinforced sidewalls and a dual carcass tread, to help protect them from sharp objects looking to puncture the rubber.
Protecting the Important Bits
The 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar has stainless steel body elements on the front and rear fascia and side skirts. Although they're not full-blown skid plates, combined with the underbody tray, they work together to keep sand, rocks and other debris away from the important bits. While on the topic of protection, the air intakes on either side of the car’s front bumper features stainless steel mesh grilles, once again to keep damaging road debris away from the intercoolers and radiators.
If things go awry, there are fixed front and rear aluminum tow hooks painted red. It’s also possible to equip the 911 Dakar with a roof basket that can hold extra fuel, water, recovery boards, and more.
Weight Saving Looks
The 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar is available in a variety of colors, but the Rally Design Package steals all the attention. It features a design that pays tribute to the iconic Rothmans livery worn by the 1984 rally winner.
Under the paint and stickers are plenty of upgrades to keep weight down while blasting the Dakar over sand dunes. The hood and fixed rear spoiler are both made from carbon fibre reinforced plastics.
The interior features no rear seats and carbon fiber buckets up front. Despite all the upgraded mechanics listed above, the 911 Dakar weighs just 3,552 pounds. Porsche claims that it’s a mere 16 pounds more than a 2024 911 Carrera 4 GTS with the PDK transmission.
The Verdict
The 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar may not be a rock crawler like a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon or have the ground clearance of a Ford F-150 Raptor. But the new car is wholly capable in the rough stuff. It would embarrass many crossovers and SUVs off-road, and is a fitting tribute to the 40-year-old legend.
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A 20+ year industry veteran, Mike rejoins the AutoGuide team as the Managing Editor. He started his career at a young age working at dealerships, car rentals, and used car advertisers. He then found his true passion, automotive writing. After contributing to multiple websites for several years, he spent the next six years working at the head office of an automotive OEM, before returning back to the field he loves. He is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA). He's the recipient of a feature writing of the year award and multiple video of the year awards.
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