The Porsche 911 Dakar is the only car that you can drive from an African safari to Le Mans, then to the theater and onto the streets of New York. That is what Porsche says, you give them the credit that you think they deserve. We have one 911 Dakar here that looks like it has been in and won several battles with the sand dunes of Dubai, too.
It is a 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar, number #591 of a planned production run of 2,500. The owner took it home in June from Porsche Bellevue in Washington and is now trying to get rid of it. It looks like the strategy against car flipping applied by the German carmaker on the 911 S/T should be valid for the Dakar lineup as well.
Porsche came up with the 911 Dakar as an homage to the Porsche 953’s overall victory in the Paris-Dakar Rally, back in 1984. The Germans unveiled it at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show. The car is based on the Carrera 4 GTS, but sports better off-road capability. That is provided by an increased ground clearance, all-terrain tires, specialized drive modes, while Porsche also worked on serious weight saving.
Finished in Shade Green Metallic, the car got a paint protection film to the front end by the selling dealer in August 2023, just to keep that area safe when going off the tarmac.
The 911 Dakar also sports a hood in carbon fiber with stainless steel vents, stainless-steel front and rear skid plates, while there is a carbon fiber fixed rear spoiler at the rear end. There are body-colour mirror cases and 911 Dakar puddle lamps, as well as black rocker-panel cladding with inset stainless steel guard plates shows up on the sides.
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Porsche equipped the Dakar version of the 911 with lightweight glass to keep the weight under control. Red front and rear tow hooks might be necessary in the off-road, too, and so might be the Porsche Dakar roof rack with an inset light bar, accompanied by the reprogramming of the PCM computer, plus spade, jerry cans, and sand recovery rails, also installed by Porsche Bellevue in August, when the protective film was applied. At the rear end, there are Exclusive Design tailpipes finished in silver.
The Shade Green Metallic contrasts with the cabin in black leather and Race-Tex microfiber upholstery, covering the heated adaptive sports seats with memory and Guards Red seatbelts. What matches the exterior of the car is the Shade Green stitching.
The same upholstery extends to the door panels, dashboard, and center console, with the latter two also sporting brushed aluminum inserts. A PCM touchscreen displays the infotainment system, while the Burmester system provides a high-end experience. A surround view system helps with visibility.
The multifunction steering wheel is also wrapped in leather and sports gear shift paddles. Behind the steering wheel, there is a central 8,000-rpm tachometer with an inset speed readout and LCD screens with configurable displays. The Sport Chrono stopwatch is present atop the center of the dashboard. There are no rear seats on board the 911 Dakar.
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The Porsche 911 Dakar comes with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-six engine, shared with the Carrera GTS, linked to an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission. The power unit delivered 473 horsepower (480 PS) and 420 lb-ft (570 Nm) of torque, steered by the gearbox and three differentials to all four wheels.
The German carmaker equipped the model with an adjustable lift system, rear-axle steering for easy maneuvring in tight spaces, and Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control with active anti-roll bars. Rally Launch Control, rally and off-road drive modes remind those on board that they are dealing with a special version of the 911.
The 911 Dakar rides on 19-inch multi-spoke forged alloy wheels in Satin Black finish, with all-terrain Pirelli Scorpion tires at the front, while Porsche mounted 20-inch wheel on the rear axle. Cross-drilled and ventilated disc brakes with red-painted calipers provide the stopping power.
Porsche gave the 911 Dakar an extra ride height of 50 millimeters (1.96 inches) compared to the standard-suspension-equipped 991, plus the hydraulic lift system that brings along an extra 30 millimeters (1.2 inches). The maximum ride height of 7.5” is sustainable at up to 105 mph (169 kph).
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The car has driven for only 173 miles (278 kilometers). It now goes with a window sticker, factory books, service records, a battery charger, a car cover, a clean Carfax report, and a clean Washington title. The owner paid $234,600 for the car, according to the window sticker. Now, it goes under the hammer on Bring a Trailer, and the current bid has already exceeded the original price.
There is a lien on the car, so the buyer will have to pay the lender before the title can be transferred in their name. The seller signed a non-export agreement with Porsche, which means that the next owner must be from the United States.
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