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Porsche 911 Dakar Debuts In Los Angeles And GM Has No Corvette Equivalent

Porsche just unveiled the 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show, revealing a new off-road, rally-inspired variant of the popular sports car.

First and foremost, the new 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar runs upgraded suspension with an additional 50mm (1.97 inches) of ride height compared to the 911 Carrera with Sport Suspension. The standard lift system can also raise the car an additional 30mm to clear taller obstacles if needed, and can be used at speeds up to 105 mph for “spirited off-road driving.”

Under the wheel arches are specially developed Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus tires, with sizing staggered at 245/45 ZR 19 in front and 295/40 ZR 20 in the rear. The tires feature a chunky off-road tread with 9mm of depth, plus reinforced sidewalls. Pirelli summer performance tires and snow tires are optional.

As for the power spec, the new Porsche 911 Dakar features the same twin-turbocharged 3.0L flat-six engine as the 911 Carrera GTS, with output rated at 473 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. Directed through the Porsche eight-speed PDK transmission and Porsche Traction Management all-wheel drive system, the sprint to 60 mph takes 3.2 seconds, with top speed limited to 150 mph.

In terms of aesthetics, the Porsche 911 Dakar is equipped with a fixed rear spoiler, flared fenders, and off-road rocker panels. The options list gives a nod to the first overall Porsche victory at the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally with the Rallye Design Package, which is inspired by the race car’s livery. An optional roof basket and roof tent are offered as well.

Production of the 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar will be limited to 2,500 units globally. Pricing starts at $222,000, with deliveries expected in the U.S. next spring.

At present, GM does not offer an equivalent Chevy Corvette rival to the new Porsche 911 Dakar. Late last year, GM Authority reported that Porsche was working on a ruggedized variant of the 911, asking readers to vote in a poll on whether or not The General should develop a rival under the Corvette nameplate. The majority of those who took the poll (70 percent) voted against the idea.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. just bring back the chevy tracker with a LT4 to compete with this

    Reply
  2. Yeah, Gm has never been one to get into the offroad market. Not really sure why. Perhaps it’s just the way they swing.

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    1. They are in the off road market, they’ve got the ZR2’s and the new Hummer as off road focused products. They’re not in it as heavy as Ford but they’re certainly in that segment

      Reply
  3. A Zora rallye hybrid would be an interesting, if niche offering. One of those automotive artists should render some concepts! Might get some creative juices flowing at gm.

    Reply
  4. Hi Jonathan, I welcome a excellent report on the 2024 Porche 911 Dakar, I hope your Michigan boss approved your visit to the LA auto show.
    I recommend one of these days you participate in the Paris-Dakar rallye tremendous experience.

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  5. These days most people expect that their cars will be able to clear small obstacles, potholes, and road humps etc. The Porsche 911 Dakar meets those requirements. If GM expects to increase sales of the Corvette beyond the 50-80 gray haired male set; then a raised Corvette with real tires that have actual roadable height and carrying capacity will be a must. Most of the old folks that buy Corvettes these days amble slowly off to the Cruise Night to show off their new Corvette and that’s about it. GM is missing a real opportunity here.

    Reply
    1. I have had my C8 on fire roads with potholes and “washboard” dirt and sand. I was certainly careful and some folks looked at me funny, but it did fine. I traveled coast to coast, picking the car up in Bowling Green and traveling to Seattle via North Carolina, Alabama, and Los Angeles. Two roller bags in the trunk, mass camera gear, a duffel and a drone in the frunk. It is a comfortable cross country mount for two, loafs along at 1,500 RPM and 75 mph getting ~30 MPG and can still be quite the thrill on a mountain road or on the track. I had no issues with less than ideal road surfaces. I would describe it as a luxury road missile.
      If you need four seats and the need to carry six or eight foot lumber or conduit the Corvette is not for you. Perhaps the Camero would fit your needs for a domestic sporty car to head to the home store with.

      Reply
  6. Corvette doesn’t need a Rally racer, what Chevrolet needs to do like the Porsche 911 is get lighter, I love Corvette and I’m so glad Chevrolet finally went mid engine but the Corvette needs to get lighter. More carbon fiber and mono💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾

    Reply
  7. Well Ryan my idea of offroad would be a Jeep Rubicon or Ford Bronco something that you could actually take off road like on the Rubicon Trail and actually do some technical four Wheeling. Can’t say I have ever seen a Hummer on the trail. I guess picking the kids from school in the Hummer looks pretty cool but I like performance before it looks. GM has never had a true off-road vehicle. It does not mix well with the thought process of Mary and their group.

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  8. Does GM need to increase sales of the Corvette?. Last I checked there is a 18 month wait time to get one built to spec. And most younger floks don’t have a 100k to buy a new Corvette so perhaps this why older people have them because we have worked and saved. It amazes me how we love to categorize people in groups, so narrow minded. I have had a Corvette since I was 34 years old. And love my 3rd. Corvette a 2021 C8 Z51 Sebring orange on the mountain roads.

    Reply

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