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Porsche Plans to Rehash a Cult 911 That Once Took the World by Storm

The 911 Dakar is supposedly making a comeback to live on for another iteration.

Rear side of a blue and white Porsche SUV with dirt-covered tires and body on a dirt road.Porsche
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By Chris Chin

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Porsche is apparently readying a follow-up to its awesomely quirky 911 Dakar. Spy shots recently surfaced of an odd-looking 911 prototype with raised suspension, beefy tires and slick driving lights in Sweden.

And if one were to perform logical deduction from the apparent modifications, it seems said rumors of new successor are holding water. Just last year, some hearsay suggested Porsche could produce another Dakar-inspired model after the original remake’s runaway success.

The recent spotting of this test mule further confirms the word on the street.

One of the coolest 911s ever made

White and blue Rothmans Porsche rally car number 176 kicking up sand in a desert setting.
The Type 992-based 911 Dakar pays tribute to this very automobile, the original Type 953.
Porsche

It was just a few years ago when Porsche revealed its modern rendition of one of its most iconic competition cars: the OG Type 953. Based on the G Series 911 from the 1980s, it was Zuffenhausen’s manufacturer’s entrant into the world-famous 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally.

It was outrageous to see one of the world’s most iconic road-going sports cars compete in such a grueling race. What’s more, the Type 953 went on to take the championship title, beating out a purpose-built Range Rover and even a Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution.

2023 Porsche 911 Dakar

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The same lineage behind the Type 953 also led to the production of the equally legendary 959.

In 2022, to honor that heritage, Porsche built a modern rendition called the 911 Dakar. Based on the Type 992 platform, the 911 Dakar was essentially a contemporary tribute to that 953 championship car.

Two Porsche rally cars with vintage racing liveries driving on a dusty desert road, one with roof rack and lights.
Despite being a tribute, the 911 Dakar became outrageously popular, which triggered some other automakers like Lamborghini to build an off-road version of its Huracán.
Porsche

As such, the 911 Dakar featured heavy-duty performance off-road suspension with a two-inch lift kit, beefier specialized Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus tires, a recalibrated all-wheel-drive system and other tweaks.

And the result is probably one of the coolest and most collectible modern 911s of all time. Especially with its limited production run of 2,500 units.

Gas-electric hybrid power may be the only choice

Two blue and white Porsche rally cars with racing decals parked on a rocky desert terrain with hills in the background.
The new model will take inspiration from the Type 953 while still using the latest and greatest 992.
Porsche

Unlike the most recent 911 Dakar tribute, the new model is apparently still starting life as a Type 922 GTS. Except, this time, it’ll incorporate all of the model’s mid-cycle updates and a completely new powertrain.

For the new model, a revised gas-electric hybrid propulsion system will replace the old model’s gas-only turbocharged flat-six setup. Estimates put total system output at around 550 horsepower, versus the previous car’s 473 horses.

Blue and white Porsche 911 with roof rack and gear kicking up dust on a desert dirt road.
What’s cooler than a purpose-built, factory-backed 911 that can go off-roading?
Porsche

Sadly, there won’t be any changes to the transmission. Which, for the previous car, was only Porsche’s PDK dual-clutch system. So, don’t hold your breath for any manual versions.

But the hybrid powertrain showcases Porsche’s latest trajectory when it comes to electrification. It was only last year when Zuffenhausen’s finest announced its about-face with EVs.

Instead of going all-in on electric vehicles, Porsche pledged to focus on improving internal combustion tech while also exploring viable options with gas-electric hybrid systems.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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