High-riding, all-terrain Porsche 911 spied again as Austrian firm offers up a much cheaper classic alternative
The high-riding Porsche 911 Dakar has been spotted charging around the Nurburgring for the first time as the high-riding all-wheel drive performance crossover coupe inches closer to production.
Expected to be revealed as part of the updated ‘992.2’ range alongside the first-ever hybrid-powered 911, the Dakar (historically dubbed the ‘Safari’) snapped in these most recent images is rolling on a set of staggered five-spoke alloys not dissimilar to those featured on the freshly leaked Porsche 911 Sport Classic.
Despite being touted as a more versatile ‘go-anywhere’ member of the rear-engined 911 range, the black hoops of this particular Dakar are wrapped in sticky Pirelli P Zero rubber as per the all-electric Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo, although some examples of the latter ship with Michelin rubber.
Thanks to the direct sunshine and obvious lack of snow and ice, these latest spy shots also lend us a better look at the Dakar’s extended wheel-arches and semi-disguised side skirts.
As per the previously mentioned Taycan crossover wagon, that should gift the all-terrain 911 a more rugged appearance and provide a marginal amount of protection to the body and/or paint work when – if ever – it heads bush.
Other features we can see more clearly include the bonnet-mounted air intake and the square front bumper that blends 997-gen Carrera styling cues with elements of the 992 Turbo.
Having seen the car in person as well as snapping these images, our spy photographer hypothesises the Dakar will be a high-riding version of the all-wheel drive Carrera 4 or Carrera 4S, which could mean outputs of up to 331kW/550Nm from its twin-turbo 3.0-litre flat six.
The extra ride height will no doubt make this one of the more relaxed handling 911s, but the flipside will be the obvious improvement in all-road versatility.
Factory-produced, high-riding Porsche coupes have been around since the 1970s and have even competed in the infamous Dakar Rally … hence the name of this latest version.
But they’ve all been quite expensive – even on the second-hand market – and the new one is still a while away, which is why Austrian firms Vagabund and NINE ELEVEN Outlaw have collaborated to create a box-fresh off-road conversion pack for the old Porsche 924 and Porsche 944 duo.
Prices for both these models have started to creep up in recent years but they’re still way more affordable than the 911s and 928s of the same era.
In Europe, the pack costs €9900 ($A14,726) and comprises a 40mm lift kit, revised rear axle with custom parts, new spring plates, new rear shock absorbers, five 205/70 R15 all-terrain tyres, black or gold powder coating of existing rims, Rallye light set-up with four Hella Rallye 1000 or Comet 500 lights, custom roof rack, rubber mud flaps, Vagabond Safari design decal kit, MOMO steering wheel and a custom short shifter.
A heap of other mods including bash plates, coil-over suspension, studded tyres, limited-slip rear differential, a hydraulic handbrake and stainless-steel exhaust system are all available optionally, in addition to the parts above.
All labour, consumables, installation and a complimentary wheel alignment are included in the price, perhaps making the 924 and 944 the best value Safari-spec Porsche to date…
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Keyword: Porsche 911 Dakar enters the Green Hell