The 911 has always been the kind of sports car you can use every day, and the high-riding Dakar version introduced last year only improved on those 24-7 strengths. Trouble is, the Dakar costs $222,000, or at least that’s Porsche says because, well, good luck finding one at MSRP, which doesn’t make it the most expensive 911 in the lineup, but puts it out of the reach of all but the wealthiest enthusiasts.
Enter Denmark’s Kalmar and its new RS-6. The firm’s menu already includes enhanced off-road options for the Cayenne and safari-style air-cooled 911s, but those older 911s aren’t cheap, meaning you need to be Dakar rich to buy one and have someone modify it. So for the RS-6 Kalamar turned its attention to the more affordable 996, its first water-cooled 911.
The Conversion Costs $49,000
The RS-6 – “Rally Special” in this case, not “Rennsport” – conversion costs from €45,000 ($49k), but the advantage is that a donor 996 costs a fraction of what you’d pay for an air-cooled 911 to use as a project base. Customers can start with pretty much any configuration of manual or Tiptronic 996 coupe, from a simple Carrera 2 to an all-wheel drive Turbo.
The base spec sticks with the stock 296 hp (300 PS) flat-six of the pre-facelift cars, but that can be boosted to 493 hp (500 PS), which ought to really make use of the standard limited slip differential.
Kalmar’s stock suspension kit includes bespoke adjustable dampers, custom springs, heavy duty driveshafts and narrow 6×16-inch wheels shod with all-terrain rubber or WRC-style spiked Michelins. There’s 210 mm (8.27 inches) of ride height in that spec – as much as in a second-generation Porsche Cayenne and 80 mm (3.15 inches) more than in a regular 996 – but buyers can option a hydraulic suspension kit that lets you drop the ride height by 50 mm (2 inches) at the push of a button.
More: Porsche May Introduce More Off-Road And 70s And 80s Retro 911 Specials Says CEO
The final spec is down to the customer’s choice and the size of his wallet, but roof mounted fuel cans, spare wheel and an auxiliary light bar are standard, as are thick underbody protective panels – particularly important in water-cooled cars with. The interior is pared back to the minimum, and loses most of the sound proofing but gains either Recaro sports seats or full racing buckets. Again, though, we imagine Kalmar will build the car to suit your taste. How would you build yours?
