LA MOTOR SHOW: Porsche 911 Dakar revealed and priced

After various sightings and a generous teaser last week, the 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar has been revealed in all its glory at the Los Angeles motor show.

Australian pricing of $491,400 plus on-road costs has also been confirmed for the desert-ready sports car, which is now available for order ahead of first deliveries in the second half of next year.

The global production run is limited to 2500 units.

The pricing puts the 911 Dakar as the fourth-most expensive 911 variant offered in Australia behind the Turbo S Cabriolet (from $527,500), Turbo S Coupe ($506,200) and track-honed GT3 RS ($500,200).

Opt for the Rallye Design Package and the asking price shoots up another $54,730 to $546,130 plus ORCs.

This design pack pays homage to Porsche’s winning car of the 1984 Paris-Dakar rally – a Rothmans-liveried 953 – and adds two-tone white and blue paintwork and wrapping (a first for Porsche on a standard model), a personalised race number (between 1 and 999), decorative red and gold stripes and a new trademarked ‘Roughroads’ door logo.

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.

Kilos have been saved with the use of lightweight glass, a lightweight battery and carbon-fibre bucket seats, plus the removal of the rear seats. There is also no spare wheel on the Australian-spec Dakar (only tyre sealant and compressor), due to its “high global standard equipment load”.

The Dakar rides 50mm higher than a standard 911 Carrera with sports suspension and has a lift system fitted standard that can raise the car at the front and rear end a further 30mm. Porsche doesn’t specify the ground clearance, but it’s likely to take the coupe close to 200mm.

The suspension has unique tuning to suit the Dakar’s off-road orientation and is complemented by bespoke Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tyres (245/45ZR19 at the front and 295/40ZR20 at the rear). Porsche says the chunky tread pattern is 9mm deep and that the reinforced sidewalls and the threads consist of two carcass plies.

The Dakar also features rear-axle steering and engine mounts pinched from the GT3 and the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control active roll stabilisation system.

According to Porsche, the chassis overhaul means the Dakar is just as dynamic on dirt as it is on tarmac, something nurtured by the inclusion of the ‘Rallye’ and ‘Off-road’ drive modes.

The former is intended for use on faster and smoother terrain – think WRC rally stage – with a more rear-biased setting for the all-wheel drive system, while the latter is tailored for rougher terrain and elevates the suspension to its maximum height by default.

A new ‘Rally Launch Control’ function is featured in both modes to ensure clean and fast getaways on loose surfaces.

Beyond the extra ground clearance and chunky tyres, the standard-issue 911 Dakar can be singled out by its fixed carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) rear spoiler, GT3-style vented bonnet, red tow points, extended wheel-arches and a variety of stainless-steel protective elements.

A ‘Rallye Sport Package’ is also available which adds a roll cage, six-point harnesses and fire extinguisher, while buyers with less hard-core rallying intent can steer towards the optional roof rack (with 42kg capacity) and roof tent for their off-road adventures.

Join the conversation at 

our Facebook page

Or email us at 

editor@carsales.com.au