There are cars that can withstand the test of time without aging at all… or barely. In fact, it is safe to say that all Porsche vehicles fall under this category. But in this blog, we will only be referring to one of these models, one that is very promising: the 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar, a tribute to its ancestor, the 911 Carrera 3.2 4x4 Paris-Dakar (# 953), winner of the legendary race in 1984.
So, when we had the opportunity to take the 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar out for a test drive, we did not have to be asked twice! If you are curious about what it felt like to get behind the wheel of the 2024 911 Dakar, read on below!
Breathtaking Exterior Styling
Our test drive took place in the Greater Montreal area, more precisely, on the North Shore. The whole team was buzzing with excitement, given that an opportunity like this doesn’t present itself every day!
The 2024 911 Dakar has a significant advantage from the start, simply because it is a 911! The vehicle boasts a sporty silhouette that is easily recognizable and that rhymes with high performance and refinement, and which is truly worthy of a Porsche.
The very first feature that grabbed our attention was the higher ground clearance, which is 50 mm higher than the 911 Carrera with the Sport suspension. Moreover, when you activate the Off-Road driving mode, the suspension can rise even higher, by 30 mm, helping you tackle obstacles with ease.
So, with this higher ground clearance, the new 911 Dakar not only boasts an athletic silhouette, but one that speaks volumes as to the all-terrain capabilities it delivers; we will get back to these.
Let’s also mention the all-new 19-inch all-terrain tires at the front and 20-inch tires at the rear, the fender flares, the rear spoiler and the reinforced front shield made from stainless steel, among other things. This Porsche 911 is also equipped with underbody and fender protectors, revised bumpers with protection plates and red towing hooks at the front and rear, without forgetting the fiberglass reinforced plastic perforated hood.
Given that this vehicle is superbly comfortable on the highway, on the racetrack and even in a desert landscape, it is also equipped with auxiliary LED headlights that are perfectly adapted to night driving or driving on desert-like terrain.
The roof rack is also greatly appreciated, given that it will allow you to carry a lot of the essential equipment you will need on your outings on rougher terrain, including fuel and drinking water jerrycans. Let’s also mention the multi-purpose folding shovel, which also doubles as a saw or an axe. You will find it extremely practical should you ever be stranded out in the middle of nowhere.
This roof rack can also be equipped with a roof tent, perfect for your getaways in the great outdoors.
Finally, when it comes to body colours, you will have several choices: from standard colours (black, white), and special ones (Shade Green Metallic and Ice Grey Metallic), to metallic hues (GT Silver Metallic) and colours included in the Rallye Design Package, your options are almost endless! Take note that this last option ‒our favourite, obviously- will also allow you to select the number printed on the doors.
Off-road, on the racetrack or in the city, you can expect remarkable performance!
This all-terrain high-performance Porsche sports car was designed for extreme circumstances, in tribute to the mythical Paris-Dakar. By selecting the Rallye mode, you will be able to drive easily through mud, gravel or even grassy terrain, while the Off-Road mode, as its name indicates, will allow the 911 Dakar to tackle dunes and rocks. Is there another Porsche model that can claim to do as much without being an SUV? the answer is simple: No!
Offering remarkable performance worthy of a Porsche, the 2024 911 Dakar is equipped with a powerful 3.0-liter flat 6-cylinder, coupled with an 8-speed PDK transmission. This engine produces 473 horsepower/420 lb-ft. of maximum torque and can achieve the 0-100 km/hr sprint in as little as 3.4 seconds. Moreover, it can reach a remarkable top speed of 240 km/hr; and the 911 Dakar is obviously equipped with a high-performance all-wheel drive system as standard equipment.
Even though other models obviously generate even more power ‒like the GT3 RS, for example-, no 911 can possibly compete with the Dakar model when it comes to off-road capabilities, given how perfectly at ease it is on any type of terrain.
A Streamlined and User-Friendly Interior
Porsche has never been one for flamboyant or flashy interiors, and we thank them for this! Just like for any other Porsche model, the interior focuses on a sporty driving experience, one that does not need to dress to impress.
A GT sport steering wheel with a 12 o’clock marking, brushed aluminum and Race-Tex accents, full bucket seats ‒there are only 2 on board-, and a numbered aluminum plate: here are just a few of the interior features you could find aboard the 911 Dakar. Let’s also mention that only 2,500 copies will be made!
Let’s not forget the different on-board technologies and safety features! If you are an audiophile, you will be happy to know that the Dakar can be equipped, as an added option, with a high-performance 855-Watt Burmester sound system with a 300-Watt subwoofer.
Moreover, you will have the possibility to add a dashcam system and the ParkAssist Vision 360 system with a surrounding view function. All this systems’ data will be displayed directly on your center screen.
At the Wheel of the 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar
The moment we were all impatiently waiting for had finally come: getting behind the wheel! Let’s just say that our test drive of the 911 Dakar did not leave us feeling disappointed, quite the contrary!
The absence of a desert setting and sand dunes may not have allowed us to test the model’s capabilities in such conditions, although ‒thanks to the climate in Quebec - we were in the perfect position to understand how the 911 Dakar fares in the cold and on snow covered roads. We must admit that driving a 911 in the midst of winter and in the snow was a special experience; and the car tackled this challenge with ease!
Although the 2024 911 Dakar is equipped with an automatic transmission, it still offers remarkable performance and quick accelerations, which becomes obvious as soon as your right foot hits the pedal.
There are different available driving modes ‒Wet, Normal, Sport, Individual, Rallye and Offroad-, each allowing the vehicle to provide you with optimal performance in all circumstances.
The 911 Dakar’s maneuverability and road handling on snow covered roads exceeded our expectations, thanks to the all-wheel drive system’s quick response. This means that you can expect the same type of driving experience that is typical of a 911, but with the addition of remarkable capabilities on harsher terrain. We were truly impressed!
Takeaway
Our test drive of the 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar allowed us to evaluate all of the potential this worthy successor to the 911 Carrera 3.2 4x4 Paris-Dakar had to offer. But this potential has a price: a base price of over $275,000, on top of all of the different available options, taxes and other fees. This model might not be accessible to everyone, but the 2,500 buyers who will have the chance to get their hands on one of the available copies will enjoy a unique model that probably won’t become accessible again any time soon.
If you would like to learn more about the 2024 911 Dakar, our Porsche leasing and financing options, or the current special offers for our different models, come and visit us at Porsche Lauzon, your Porsche dealership in Laval and the Greater Montreal area!