Porsches are renowned for their outstanding performance, providing the finest seats in the world for an exhilarating driving experience. The star child, the 911, has been in existence for over one million years (ahem!), igniting the streets with its presence. Each version of this sports car has introduced fresh elements, surpassing the performance benchmarks set by its predecessor.
Among the countless versions and iterations of the 911, the GT3 RS stands out as the sportiest rendition of this iconic sports car. However, nestled in the depths of the Porsche Skunk Works, a car was in the works that left every 911 enthusiast breathless upon its introduction at the end of last year.
In this week’s edition of the DubiCars Exotic Car of the Week, we got to relive that breathtaking moment by checking out the limited-edition Porsche 911 Dakar. As 1 of just 2,500 cars made, this particular Porsche 911 Dakar is listed for sale on DubiCars from Stoub Biz Motors.
History & Rally Design Option Package
The Porsche 911 Dakar pays homage to the 1984 Paris-Dakar rally-winning 911 Safari. This 911 Dakar from Stoub Biz Motors features the optional Rallye Design Package, which makes the sports car more desirable. This is the first time Porsche has introduced a combination of dual-colour paint and foiling in their series-production cars. Customers can also personalize the side of the vehicle with an individual race number between 0 and 999. The one we reviewed has the number 911 – a safe bet indeed!
Rallye Design Package exterior options include:
- Two-tone paint finish in White and Gentian Blue Metallic
- Rally-Sport graphics and number box
- Decal set in Gold and Red
- Rally stripes
- 20-inch Dakar white wheels
- CFRP white rear spoiler
- Taillights in Red
Rallye Design Package interior options include:
- Leather Race-Tex interiors with contrast Sharkblue stitching
- Perforated Race-Tex leather seat cover
- Perforated roof lining, and dashboard upper section
- Interior package in Ceramica
- Seat belts finished in Sharkblue
Exterior Design & Features
The 911 Dakar is based on the 911 Carrera 4 GTS and things have not changed much apart from the flamboyant bodywork. The raised stance might deceive you into thinking it is an all-new design. But, Porsche understands the sentiments of their fans and has not changed much in terms of its overall look. It still features oval-shaped headlamps and sleek tail lamps.
What sets it apart is the all-around black body cladding that smoothly blends with a metal bash plate positioned on both the front and rear bumpers. Even the runners have a metal bash plate for added protection when navigating rough terrain. Good attention to detail by Porsche.
Dimension Check:
| Length | 4,530mm |
| Width | 2,033mm |
| Height | 1,338mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,450mm |
| Front Boot Space | 132L |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 67L |
| Standard Ground Clearance | 161mm |
Interiors, Features & Technology
Entering the 911 Dakar’s interior, the cabin maintains a sense of familiarity with the Carrera. A notable feature is a plaque on the dashboard displaying “911 Dakar” along with the limited-edition serial number. In the case of this specific 911 Dakar, it is numbered 1,021 out of the total production of 2,500 units.
The optional Rallye Design Package enhances the cabin’s sporty ambience with Race-Tex leather upholstery complemented by contrasting blue stitching. Despite its focus on being a performance-oriented vehicle, Porsche has retained all the luxuries and convenient features. The car still boasts dual 10.9-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment system. This specific 911 Dakar from Stoub Biz Motors comes equipped with a couple of options: a Smoker’s pack and a high-end Brumester audio system.
Off-road Changes
Porsche isn’t messing around with the 911 Dakar, as the name suggests, the rugged sports car has some serious upgrades on the 911 Carrera’s basic structure. These include:
- All-wheel-drive and steering system
- Porsche Traction Management
- Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus
- Porsche Dynamic Chassis
- Rallye and Offroad driving modes
- 30mm suspension lift kit
- Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tyres
- Surround-view Monitor
All the above systems will ensure the 911 Dakar is well-equipped to go over rough patches or even dune bashing with ease. With a maximum ground clearance of 190mm, the Dakar features a 16.1-degree approach, 18.2-degree departure and 19.0-degree break-over angles.
In Rallye mode, the torque bias is shifted rearward to promote controllable rally-style oversteer on loose, gravelly surfaces. However, In Offroad mode, the torque is split evenly between front and rear. The Pirelli Scorpion tyres allow for lower standard pressure, and on sand, they can be deflated to 17 psi for better traction.
Engine & Transmission
Regarding the 911 Dakar’s power, it’s equipped with a 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six engine paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox sourced from the Carrera 4 GTS. Here are the performance figures.
| Max Power | 480hp |
| Peak Torque | 570Nm |
| 0 to 100km/h | 3.4 seconds |
| 0 to 200km/h | 12 seconds |
| Top Speed | 240km/h |
Verdict
How shocked we were when we caught wind of the 911 Dakar being developed in Porsche’s development centre! After two years of relentless testing and optimising the 911 Dakar embodies every aspect of what makes a Porsche unique. In justifying the ‘Dakar’ nameplate, Porsche has done a fabulous job in transforming their low-slung sports car into a capable dune-bashing machine.
The fact that it is limited to just 2,500 units makes this one of the most unique limited-edition models in Porsche’s lineup. However, this exclusivity comes at a price – AED 1.66 million. Now all that is left for you is to check this particular Porsche 911 Dakar listed for sale on DubiCars and contact Stoub Biz Motors to add it to your garage.
