Watch a Porsche 911 Dakar Dance in the Snow
After years of watching other companies take a crack at the off-road 911 formula, Porsche is finally ready to throw its hat back in the ring. The 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar brings a three-inch lift, flared fenders, and unique all-terrain tires to the sports car, all in the name of making it quicker when the pavement ends. Thanks to Planet Car News on YouTube, we have a chance to see how those adjustments fare in some wintery mix.
The 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar employs the powertrain as the Carrera 4 GTS model. That means a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six providing 473 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, all of which runs through an all-wheel drive system. An eight-speed PDK gearbox is the sole transmission option with Dakar, a bummer for all of the manual purists among us. In normal driving conditions, the Dakar rides a substantial 1.96 inches higher than a typical Carrera. An onboard lift system can raise the vehicle another 1.18 inches, for a total of 3.15 inches of additional height at speeds up to 105 mph. Underneath the bodywork sits a revised suspension with longer links, while adjustable shocks eat up the car’s rear seat room. Pirelli developed a bespoke Scorpion All Terrain Plus tire for this car, though snow and summer tires from Pirelli are also available. The former appear to be on display in this clip, which highlights the 911 Dakar’s prowess as a winter daily.
Even rear-drive Porsche 911s are proven to be capable machines in low-traction scenarios, so it's no surprise to see an all-wheel drive 992 handle a snow course with such poise. The car seems to do exactly what is asked of it, letting enough slip at the rear for some sideways apex approaches. The flat-six engine sounds great banging off the limiter, too.
Of course the Porsche 911 Dakar’s MSRP of $223,450 including destination will surely prevent many owners from enjoying the snow like this. If you’re one of the 2500 folks who have one of these on order, this is the sort of stuff we want to see in 2023.
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