Porsche 911 Dakar to make comeback with hybrid powertrain

The Porsche 911 Dakar was a unique, limited-run version of the iconic sports car, capable of maintaining a rapid pace off-road without compromising its on-road abilities. The 911 Dakar was on sale in international markets between 2022 and 2024, when production of the off-road-ready 911 ended. However, the German performance brand is said to be working on offering the 911 Dakar with the current 992.2 generation of the model as well.

1. The new Porsche 911 Dakar will be sold in limited numbers
2. It will use the 911 GTS’ T-Hybrid powertrain
3. To get dual-clutch auto and 4WD

Senior sources have told our sister publication, Autocar UK, that the updated 911 Dakar is under development at Porsche’s Weissach engineering centre. It will join the German carmaker’s facelifted 992-series (992.2) 911 line-up by the end of this year, at least in markets abroad. Like its predecessor, which had a limited run of 2,500 units, the updated 911 Dakar will be sold in limited numbers.

While the updated 911 Dakar will feature a similar rugged styling and jacked-up design as its predecessor, it will be powered by the flat-six hybrid powertrain seen in the 911 Carrera GTS. Called T-Hybrid by Porsche, this powertrain combines a 485hp, flat-six engine that has an electric turbocharger with a 56hp electric motor mounted at the end of the 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The setup also uses heat transfer technology pioneered by Porsche’s Le Mans-winning 919 to charge the 1.9kWh battery. The total output in the Porsche 911 GTS is 541hp and 680Nm.

As the previous 911 Dakar’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre flat six made 480hp and 570Nm, expect the updated model to better the outgoing one’s 0-100kph time of 3.4 seconds. Along with bettering performance, the hybrid powertrain is also expected to improve fuel economy. The updated 911 Dakar is expected to come with an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox and four-wheel drive, like the GTS.

Porsche is also developing a new range of exterior paint shades, along with other options, which will be offered via its customisation division called Sonderwunsch (Special Wish) for the new model.

There is no word yet on whether Porsche will offer the updated 911 Dakar in India. The outgoing Dakar was not introduced here, though the 992.2 series 911s are on sale in Carrera (Rs 1.99 crore) and Carrera 4 GTS (Rs 2.75 crore) form.

All prices, ex-showroom, India