Porsche 911 Dakar | PH Favourite Car of 2023

It’s often straightforward to foretell a favorite automobile earlier than resolution time comes. It’ll symbolize the type of factor you already like on 4 wheels, or introduce a wholly new idea that you simply by no means realised was so interesting. (That is PH, it’s sometimes the old style stuff, however you by no means know – there’ll most likely be an EV in right here quickly sufficient.) What’s unusual concerning the 911 Dakar is that I actually wasn’t bought on the concept initially, and but right here it’s. Time to clarify. 

The Dakar seemed like one other Heritage Design Version, fact be advised. It seemed like a automobile for individuals with out a lot creativeness, plundering social media for the vaguely attention-grabbing issues individuals had been doing with 911s a number of years in the past (portray them inexperienced, becoming roof racks) and providing it up model new (at extra money than a Turbo S) to maintain the vendor relationship candy. Cynical, maybe – if simply performed with one other new by-product of Porsche’s most well-known sports activities automobile. That it might be restricted (however to a hardly insignificant 2,500) and be provided with that foolish Roughroads livery solely strengthened the case as one other retro-themed money cow. My favorite 911s would stay guide and 4.0-litre, thanks very a lot. (Maybe they nonetheless are, I haven’t pushed an S/T but – one for 2024.)

Driving any automobile at Lydden Hill would possible change your opinion of it. And it might possible change the automobile, too – there’s not a lot in need of a Ranger Raptor or Nomad that might correctly cope with a race observe that’s half mud and half tarmac. A Vary Rover would cruise round and be boring, a Lotus would get caught within the mud. To be so supremely pleasing on each surfaces is a uncommon set of abilities; that the Dakar thrills on street and off it’s what makes it such a pleasure to drive. 

Compromise is rarely often held up as a ringing endorsement of a automobile, however I believe it’s key to the Dakar’s greatness. As a result of it all the time looks like a 911, regardless of the scenario: there’s nice physique management, most likely extra tyre noise than is right, terrific traction and nice management weights. There’s absolutely solely up to now the off-road transformation can go earlier than it doesn’t really feel like a sports activities automobile anymore. Even on a boggy, muddy rallycross observe, the 911 really feel was coursing by. But such was the disdain with which the Dakar dismissed the boggy, muddy rallycross observe – by no means squeaking, by no means struggling – that it’s clear the 4×4 overhaul is greater than pores and skin deep. Granted, Lydden Hill isn’t precisely the Skeleton Coast, although I’m assured nothing just like the Dakar may provide up the identical sense of enjoyable on combined surfaces. A Sterrato is a giggle, although it doesn’t really feel so prepared for the tough stuff. 

The compromise means this stays a reasonably nice street automobile as properly. In reality, one of many higher 992s, as a result of the tyres and the suspension designed for off-road use carry it to life on the general public freeway; the burden shift might be extra keenly felt, there’s a little bit of bob lengthy since eradicated elsewhere, and the Rallye drive mode that makes you are feeling like a hero within the mud can be excellent for moist tarmac. This isn’t gratuitous, roly-poly enjoyable for the sake of it, reasonably the Dakar makes these well-known 911 attributes a bit of extra accessible. Nice information given that the majority of our driving, even in a automobile like this, isn’t on a rallycross observe.  There are different vastly enjoyable new 911 experiences most actually nonetheless on the market, although valuable few that make lower than 60mph appear so partaking. 

Our little tour to Wales for these footage was the best demonstration of what the Dakar may do. The M4 was no extra taxing than in some other two-seat 911 with a cage, the B roads felt a lot extra applicable with a squidgier set-up, and the form of rufty tufty driving you’d by no means need to try in a rear-engined Porsche (generally simply entering into a carpark) may very well be tackled with aplomb. It’s all the time as a lot sports activities automobile and as a lot off-roader as may very well be wanted, and that’s a reasonably persuasive combo. 

The Dakar buzzes and fizzes greater than a traditional 911 does, due to decreased sound deadening and the GT3’s carbon buckets. Removed from being annoying, it’s a pleasant reminder that this isn’t only a jacked-up GTS in a singular color. You don’t must get mud as much as the home windows to have an excellent time (although that’s most likely the perfect time). Having pushed one round France just lately with a Christmas tree and spare wheels on the roof, that’s fun as properly. It nonetheless cruises, it nonetheless corners, however individuals level and smile and wave like they by no means do in a brand new 911.

It’s a disgrace that the Dakar should make do with the usual, measly PDK paddles and kit shifter – if ever an auto-only, non-GT 911 may justify the inclusion of a correct lever (or chunky paddles), it’s the rally raid reproduction. I believe a guide may make sense, too, given it’s accessible on the mechanically related GTS and the old-school vibe. Think about what the asking worth might need been then.

In broadening the remit of essentially the most versatile sports activities automobile round, the 911 Dakar is a very easy factor to love very a lot certainly. There hasn’t but been a scenario on street, observe or mud the place it hasn’t impressed enormously. Some will argue that it’s not excessive sufficient, {that a} 911 with this title must be portal-axled and manufactured from Kevlar and wade like a Land Cruiser. Perhaps it ought to. However Porsche deserves credit score for squeezing another mannequin right into a packed 911 lineup and giving it a definite, pleasing really feel of its personal. As 992s turn out to be ever extra severe, so one which locations such an specific concentrate on enjoyable deserves to be celebrated. I’ll make sure to not decide so swiftly in future… 

Engine: 2,981cc flat-six, twin-turbocharged
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch all-wheel drive
Energy (hp): 480@6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 420@2,300rpm
0-62mph: 3.4 sec
High velocity: 149mph (on all-terrain tyres)
Weight: 1,605kg (DIN)
MPG: 25
CO2: 256g/km (WLTP)
Value: £173,000 (worth as customary; worth as examined £179,025, comprising Shade Inexperienced Metallic for £2,207, Race-Tex inside bundle with in depth objects in leather-based, Shade Inexperienced stitching for £0, Rallye Sport Package deal with extra street authorized 1kg fireplace extinguisher for £3,000, Porsche Design Subsecond clock for £818)

Maybe the Revuelto can be remembered because the odd one out in future, the awkward bridge between Lamborghini’s V12 classics and no matter a totally electrified future appears like. Six miles of plug-in vary does look considerably of a token gesture, in spite of everything. I actually hope it doesn’t: out of the field, this can be a vastly thrilling hypercar, one which brings collectively the unrepeatable pleasure of inner combustion (at 9,500rpm!) with all the probabilities opened up by new know-how. By no means has a ‘customary’ Sant’Agata supercar felt so at house on circuit both, massively succesful but eminently approachable and correctly partaking as properly. With a thousand ruddy horsepower. I really like the way it appears, I really like the way it drives, and I really like {that a} V12 Lamborghini of such beautiful high quality can nonetheless exist. Let’s hope there’s an opportunity to drive one within the UK quickly – first cease Instavolt.