The Dakar is the current limited-edition off-road version of the Porsche 911 sports car. It was first showcased at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show and is powered by the 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six from the 911 Carrera GTS producing 473 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six sends power to all four wheels through an 8-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox. Porsche says the 911 Dakar can launch from zero to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and reach a top speed limited to 150 mph. There are several aspects that make the Dakar one of the most unique versions of the Porsche 911 in existence. The Dakar's suspension has been raised by two inches over that of other Porsche 911 models, and it adds a standard lift system that can increase the vehicle's ground clearance by up to 1.2 inches when necessary. This lift system also allows the 911 Dakar to travel at its maximum ride height at speeds of up to 105 mph, and its maximum ride height is automatically set when in its new Off-Road driving mode. The 911 Dakar comes standard with 19-inch front wheels and 20-inch rear wheels riding on all-terrain tires, along with underbody protection, skid plates, side protectors, red tow hooks on the front and rear bumpers, ducktail spoiler, carbon-fiber hood borrowed from the GT3, and sport seats. Weight-saving measures taken on the 911 Dakar include removing the rear seats and using lightweight window glass. In addition, the 911 Dakar borrows its brakes from the Carrera S and its cooling system from the Turbo S, and weighs about 20 pounds heavier than a 911 Carrera 4 GTS with an automatic transmission.
Only 2500 examples of the Porsche 911 Dakar will ever be built, with each example carrying a starting price of $223,450. The example pictured in this post features the rally racing livery that pays tribute to the 1984 Paris-Dakar winning 911 and adds the optional roof rack with LED flood lights built into it and cargo basket that can hold gas and water tanks and support a roof-mounted tent for camping. It is also owned by former MLB pitcher and current owner of my local Porsche dealer, C.J. Wilson, who has brought this particular example to my local Porsche club chapter's cars and coffee meets in November and this past Saturday, where I saw it up close. I have seen video clips online of him thrashing his 911 Dakar on an empty dirt and mud lot, along with photos of it hauling a Christmas tree on its roof rack, and it's great to see and hear it being used for its intended purposes. Besides this most recent sighting, I remember seeing another 911 Dakar in person on the freeway near Monterey on my way to attend last year's Exotics on Broadway show back in August, but I was unable to take any photos of it. There was a different example besides the two already mentioned here that was on display at last year's Exotics on Broadway show, but I never had a chance to see that one up close. Overall, the Dakar is one of the coolest and most impressive Porsche 911 models ever made. There's something truly special and amazing about off-road-capable sports cars and supercars, especially from the factory, and the Porsche 911 Dakar and Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato are no different to this sentiment.
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