2023 Porsche 911 Dakar gets 1970s rally wraps

Porsche has detailed three exclusive liveries offered with the 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar that’s set to launch in the second half of this year.

Drawing a direct link to the rally history of the Porsche 911s that inspired the latest 911 Dakar, the new wraps pay tribute to the early cars that battled it out in the 1970s in the East African Safari Rally.

The first wrap has been dubbed the Rallye 1971 and celebrates the Polish 911 that finished fifth in the brutal desert race that saw the Porsche compete over 5000km though savanna, desert scrublands and the highlands of Kenya.

Mimicking the original 911 S, there’s simple black decals on the bonnet, front wings and doors.

The next livery offered is the Rallye 1974 that remembers Swedish rally champ Bjorn Waldegard’s second-place finish. That year just 16 of the 99 cars that entered reached the finish, such were the unforgiving conditions.

Driving a 911 Carrera 2.7 RS, Waldegard held the lead for most of the rally until a damaged wishbone cost him the victory.

The special wrap’s blue stripes and lower Porsche logo on the doors replicate the original.

The final and most recognisable Rally 1978 Martini livery marks one of the two 911 SC Group 4 racers created to compete four years later.

Waldegard was again behind the wheel, and despite plenty of heroics, victory was thwarted when the Swede damaged another wishbone, damper and drive shaft too far from help.

Instead, Waldegard had to settle with fourth while the sister car scored second.

Featuring wave-shaped red and blue stripes used by the Martini Racing Team, the ‘14’ numbers on the door were actually lifted from the second-placed 911.

Porsche says the Rally 1971 and Rallye 1974 decal set costs €4165 ($A6500), while the more striking Rally 1971 livery is priced at €5950 ($A9300).

It’s not known if the liveries will be offered on the cars we get in Australia, which will cost a considerable $491,400 plus on-roads.

But a Rally Design Package, which adds another $54,730 to the price, has already been announced.

With that option ticked you get the even louder Rothmans livery that looks lifted from the Porsche 953-series 911 racer that won the 1984 Paris-Dakar rally.

As standard, the 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar is fitted with the 353kW/570Nm version of the 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged flat six-cylinder engine – as found in the Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS (from $354,200) – that drives all four wheels through an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic and can reach 100km/h from rest in 3.4sec.

That’s 0.1sec behind the equivalent GTS, despite the modifications on the Dakar which are extensive, but have kept the weight to just 1605kg – just 10kg more than the C4 GTS with PDK.

Riding 50mm higher than a standard 911 Carrera, the 911 Dakar gets a special lift system that can raise the front and rear by a further 30mm.

Helping keep weight down are carbon-fibre front bucket seats (and no rear seats), lightweight glass and a lightweight battery.

The 911 Dakar also features a unique suspension set-up and bespoke Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tyres with specially reinforced sidewalls, along with rear-wheel steering, engine mounts from the GT3 and active roll stabilisation.

Improving pace in the dirt, there’s a Rallye and Off-road mode, plus a Rally Launch Control tailored for loose surfaces.

Externally, 911 GT3-style bonnet vents, a carbon-fibre rear wing, red tow points, extended wheel-arches and stainless-steel bash plates complete the look.

For those who will actually take their 911 Dakar on an off-road adventure, a roll cage, six-point harness, fire extinguisher and roof rack with optional roof tent are all available for extra cost.

Porsche says it is already taking orders for the 911 Dakar Down Under, but warns that global production will be capped at 2500 units.