The Dakar gets a lot of flak for its engine. A twin-turbocharged boxer shared with the Carrera, Carrera T, and Carrera S in a 911 that costs a staggering $222,000 may seem inadequate, but remember that Porsche's 3.0-liter flattie is a seriously impressive powerplant, especially in combination with Porsche's PDK transmission.
Coming courtesy of France's Motorsport Magazine, the following video should prove the naysayers wrong in regard to the German automaker's engine choice for the Dakar. Zero to 233 kilometers per hour (145 miles per hour) is dealt with in no time, and the launch control system works extremely well in conjunction with the 911 Dakar's standard all-wheel-drive system.
What's more, the force-fed sixer makes lovely sounds at full throttle. Few turbocharged six-cylinder engines in production today come close to it, with BMW and Alfa Romeo deserving a shout-out for their S58 twin-turbo I6 and 690T twin-turbo V6 engines.
Pictured with French license plates, the car in the clip below further stands out with a retro exterior that harks back to the Rothmans-liveried 953 rally car and Rothmans-liveried 959 rally car. Founded by Louis Rothman in 1890, the London-based tobacco manufacturer was acquired by British American Tobacco in 1999. Rothmans was big on motorsport sponsorships back in the 1980s and 1990s, but alas, advertising and sponsorship bans have squeezed this industry out of motorsports.
Joined at the hip to the V10-powered Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato, the 911 Dakar isn't as pokey due to 480 metric ponies compared to 610 for the midship sibling. On the upside, the Neunelfer has the upper hand in terms of peak torque, with Porsche quoting 570 Nm (420 pound-feet) from 2,300 through 5,000 revolutions per minute versus 565 Nm (417 pound-feet) at 6,500 revolutions.
Tipping the scales at 1,605 kilograms (3,538 pounds), the 911 Dakar is merely 10 kilos heavier than the 911 Carrera 4 GTS with the PDK dual-clutch transmission. Don't expect it to impress off the beaten path, though, due to its large overhangs. 6.3 inches of standard ground clearance and 7.5 inches with the hydraulic lift, on the other hand, is pretty remarkable for a water-cooled Neunelfer.
Air-cooled Safari builds are undeniably better off the beaten path, and they're also much easier to fix in case of damage on a rough and tumble off-road venture. However, air-cooled Safari builds aren't collectible. The Dakar surely is, for Porsche intends to build 2,500 units for the entire world.
Officially rated at 3.4 seconds to 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour), the Dakar is much obliged to reach 240 kilometers per hour (149 miles per hour) with the standard Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus all-terrain tires. Said rubber measures 245/45 ZR19 up front and 295/40 ZR20 out back. The electronically-governed top speed also applies to the optional Pirelli summer tires.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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