First Impressions
2023 Porsche 911 Dakar
Episode 4223
The Porsche 911 needs no introduction thanks to decades of heritage backing it up. But where many people see the 911 nameplate as an asphalt-ready sports car— which it is— Porsche is eager to remind us of the model’s rally pedigree with this: the 2023 911 Dakar.
It’s named after the world-renowned Paris-Dakar Rally, specifically paying homage to Porsche’s legendary victory in 1984. And it does so in more ways than fancy graphics. Standard is Porsche’s Traction Management All-Wheel Drive system, driven by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo boxer engine. It produces 473 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, channeled to the wheels through an eight-speed PDK.
But raw power is only part of what’s needed to relive the 911’s golden-age of rally racing. The Dakar is also lifted for 6.2-inches of ground clearance— about 2-inches higher than a Carrera GTS. The auto-adjusting suspension can raise the vehicle up to 7.5-inches in “high mode,” a drive setting available up to 105 mph. That’s great for clearing obstacles, as are the knobby all-terrain tires wrapping bespoke wheels.
We could’ve tested the Dakar anywhere, but Porsche flew us out to the deserts of Morocco for a true Dakar Rally experience.
DAVE SCRIVENER: “In 35 years of doing this business, I never thought I’d see myself off-roading a 911, yet here I am, traversing the sandy paths and dunes of Morocco in a 911 Dakar. This is not just a trim package, this car actually has some off-road chops for soft roads, sand dunes, things like that. This thing is very-well-equipped to handle this kind of terrain.”
Other trim-exclusive add-ons include a CRFP rear spoiler and hood, model-specific fascias and rocker panels, and wheel arch extensions. And if you want to go all-out with the nostalgia, you can opt for the “Rally Design Package” for the two-tone paint and scripting.
The 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar starts just a tad over $220,000, limited to just 2,500 units. It’s certainly exclusive, but a perfect 80’s throwback for Porsche Rally fans of any era.
And We’ll have more Quick Spins… soon
Vital Statistics
Engine: 3.0L Twin-Turbo Flat-Six
Horsepower: 473
Torque: 420 lb-ft
Starting Price: ~ $220,000
