- New Porsche 911 Dakar spotted testing confirming return of lifted sports car.
- Minimal exterior changes but updated interior tech inbound from facelifted 992.
- Hybrid power likely bringing big performance boost over original 473 hp Dakar.
The 911 Dakar is back in the wild. Our spy team has caught a prototype of the lifted coupe testing, confirming a second-generation Dakar is on the way based on the facelifted 992.2. Considering the last one was limited to 2,500 units which sold out almost instantly and now trade for silly money, this comeback was about as surprising as finding sand in a desert. Or, in this case, snow in northern Sweden.
Visually, don’t expect a revolution. Not that we ever get those with 911 design updates. Up front, the changes are subtle. The biggest giveaway is that the turn signals are now integrated into the headlights, following the facelifted 992.2 design.
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Around the back, things get a little more interesting. This prototype appears to be running without a fixed rear wing, instead using the standard model’s deployable one, though that could just be because development is still ongoing. Either way, the Dakar’s rugged stance and raised ride height are unmistakable.
Inside is where some of the bigger updates should happen. Like the rest of the 992.2 lineup, the new Dakar is expected to adopt Porsche’s latest digital gauge cluster and updated infotainment setup. There’s also a good chance it’ll ditch the old twist key in favor of a starter button, though we’re quietly hoping Porsche keeps the key start for tradition’s sake, as it did on the GT3.
Hybrid Power In the Frame
The GT3’s naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter screamer definitely won’t be under the hood, but what will? The original Dakar borrowed its engine from the old Carrera GTS, making around 473 hp (480 PS). The facelifted GTS now packs a hybrid-assisted 3.6 liter flat-six pushing out 543 hp (550 PS), so it’s the obvious donor for the new Dakar, as we reported last year. All-wheel drive is a given, but sadly so is a compulsory PDK transmission.
Interestingly, this prototype is missing the yellow warning stickers typically found on hybrid test cars. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not electrified, just that Porsche might be keeping things low key for now. Either way, a hybrid Dakar makes sense. More power, better efficiency, and instant electric torque sound like a perfect match for a car designed to kick up dust as easily as it devours highways.
And yes, expect it to be limited again. Because nothing makes a 911 more desirable than telling people they can’t have one – unless they’re crazy enough to pay way over MSRP on the used market.
