2023 Porsche 911 Dakar Preview

Crafty custom-vehicle builders have been lifting Porsche 911s and slapping on beefy all-terrain tires for years, so it's not surprising to see the automaker jump into the game with a new factory off-roader. The Porsche 911 Dakar is a limited-production sports car with all the off-road goodies you'd expect from a high-end German automaker.

Porsche will only build 2,500 units of the car, which it says rides 50 mm (almost 2 inches) higher than a regular 911. If that's not enough ground clearance, the car has a standard lift system that can push ride height by another 30 mm (1.2 inches). Porsche says the system isn't just for low-speed obstacle clearing and insists they intended it for "ambitious off-road adventures at speeds of up to 170 km/h (105 mph)."

The Dakar gets 19-inch front wheels and 20-inch rear rollers. Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires come standard, but Porsche offers summer and winter tires. Since most of these cars will never see the dirt they were so cleverly designed to conquer, Porsche notes that the A/T tires are just as good on the road as they are off it.

A twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter flat 6-cylinder engine comes standard. It develops 473 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. Porsche says the sprint to 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standstill takes 3.4 seconds. The automaker also says it limited the car's top speed to 240 km/h (149 mph) because of its tires. An 8-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive come standard.

To aid performance, Porsche installed the rear-axle steering system and engine mounts from the 911 GT3. The standard Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control system helps improve dynamics on loose surfaces and roads alike. Two new driving modes set the car up for off-road use: Rallye for loose, uneven terrain and Offroad for more significant obstacles. The latter driving mode automatically sets the vehicle to its highest ride height. Rallye features a launch-control system that allows extra wheel slippage for better acceleration on loose surfaces.

The 911 Dakar is available with off-road-ready accessories, including a new roof rack. It offers 92.4 pounds of carrying capacity and features a 12-volt power outlet to power roof-mounted light systems. Porsche also sells a roof-top tent for the car.

Porsche is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of November 18, 2022, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker's website or your local dealership.