The Final Porsche 911 Dakar

Porsche has unveiled the final 911 Dakar. Inspired by the rally that gave the car its name, this bespoke one-off model marks the end of the line.

The 911 Dakar is a Porsche I have a special connection with. My younger brother bought one, and soon after delivery, we took it on a roughly 900-kilometer road trip together, giving it a proper workout along the way.

ポルシェ911 ダカール徹底レビュー【前編】：900kmのグランドツーリングで体験したその実力

ポルシェ911 ダカール徹底レビュー【後編】：高速道路での実力と総評

Porsche has now revealed the 2,500th—and final—example of its off-road sports car, the 911 Dakar. This Sonderwunsch (special request) commission is said to be a one-off tribute to the modified 911 that won the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally.

Why the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally Win Matters

The 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally was won by René Metge and Dominique Lemoine behind the wheel of a 953-generation 911. It was the first Porsche to win one of the world’s toughest off-road races.

That year’s route passed through Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Mauritania, with more than 400 competitors taking part. Porsche entered three 911s, and all three completed the course, finishing in the top 30.

What Makes the Final 911 Dakar Special

The final 911 Dakar was commissioned by an unnamed Italian collector. It isn’t an exact replica of Metge and Lemoine’s winning car, but its three-color livery is designed to evoke the rally champion.

The lower body and racing stripes are finished in Gentian Blue Metallic, while the upper section is Signal Yellow. A flowing stripe in Lampedusa Blue separates the two main colors. Notably, all three colors were applied by hand.

The striking color scheme continues onto the wheels, which are finished in Signal Yellow and Lampedusa Blue. All three colors also appear in the cabin, where Signal Yellow accents are especially eye-catching. Contrast stitching and “911 Dakar” embroidery on the sport seats’ headrests add further detail.

Powertrain and Performance

The powertrain remains unchanged—and for good reason.

The 911 Dakar is powered by the same twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-six found in the GTS. It produces 480 horsepower and sends power to all four wheels through an eight-speed PDK transmission.

That’s enough for a 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) sprint in just 3.4 seconds and a top speed of around 270 km/h (168 mph). The car also features retuned suspension and a lift system that raises its ride height by about 8 centimeters compared with a standard 911.

The final car will be displayed at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart before being handed over to its owner. Given how quickly all 2,500 production slots for the 911 Dakar were snapped up, it seems entirely possible that the model could return one day.

My younger brother is a Ferrari fan who isn’t usually keen on Porsches, yet the 911 Dakar is so much fun to drive that he says he can’t bear to part with it. I also think it’s one of the most enjoyable 911s to drive.

If the 911 Dakar does make a comeback, I hope Porsche brings it back as a regular production model.