Porsche 911 Dakar launching in PH this weekend

Nearly two years ago, Porsche wowed everyone when they revealed a go-anywhere version of the 911. Simply dubbed the 911 Dakar, the high-riding sports car from Porsche gets more than just a neat set of all-terrain tires.

Fast forward to today, Porsche Philippines distributor PGA Cars Inc. has announced that the 911 Dakar will officially be launched this weekend. That's right, this coming May 5, the Porsche 911 Dakar will be making its Philippine debut.

What can we expect from the high-riding 911? For starters, the 911 Dakar stands 50mm taller than a regular 911 Carrera, gets an extra 30mm of ride height on top of the additional 50mm when the lift system is activated, a carbon fiber reinforced plastic roof, rear-wheel steering, and specially-designed all-terrain tires courtesy of Pirelli. It also has a reinforced chassis that comes with a stainless steel mesh grille to prevent damage from rocks and other debris.

As for its unique exterior, it has a special livery that pays tribute to the classic Rothmans colorway which is reminiscent of a modified Porsche 911 that claimed overall victory during the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally. It gets 19-inch alloy wheels at the front wrapped in 245/45/ZR19 tires while the rear comes with 20-inch alloys with 295/40/R20 tires. There's also an optional roof basket or roof tent that can accommodate extra gear and hold up items up to 42 kg in weight.

Powering the 911 Dakar is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six engine that generates 480 PS and 570 Nm of torque. It is then paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox that powers all four wheels. Despite being taller than your regular 911s, the Dakar can go from 0 – 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds although its top speed is limited to 240 km/h.

The Porsche 911 Dakar will be making its presence felt in the Philippines this Sunday, May 5.