PORSCHE

911 Dakar...At the Los Angeles Auto Show, which starts on November 16, 2022, Porsche will present a very special version of the iconic 911: the new 911 Dakar. It will be the first two-door sports car to offer outstanding off-road capabilities. The model's name is a tribute to Porsche's first overall victory in the Paris-Dakar rally. The revolutionary achievement came in 1984, in a modified Porsche 911 - which was equipped, for the first time, with an all-wheel drive system.

More than 10,000 kilometers of off-road driving tests...During the car's testing, the development engineers working together with the General Project Manager, Achim Lamparter, did not limit themselves to intensive testing in the off-road test fields. in Weissach. In fact, the development team has tested the 911 Dakar around the world, under extreme conditions, for over half a million km, including over 10,000 km in off-road conditions. The Château de Lastours test track in the south of France, for example, was used to test driveability and adjust the car's suspension on typical rally tracks. Mile after mile of uneven surfaces really put the Porsche 911 Dakar to the test. “All the Dakar teams come here to test their cars in Europe before the rally,” said Porsche driver Romain Dumas. At first, the Frenchman was taken aback by the task of driving a new 911 at Château de Lastours rather than elsewhere. But surprise quickly gave way to admiration for the Dakar's vigorous off-road performance. Even the jumps were no problem for the chassis, thanks to the robust design and increased ground clearance. Likewise, the 911 Dakar also handled fiery skids with agility. "I knew what a 911 could do on the track," said Dumas, "but I was absolutely blown away by the car's performance on uneven surfaces."

Walter Röhrl impressed with handling on snow and ice...Two world rally champion Walter Röhrl naturally couldn't resist the opportunity to test drive the 911 Dakar on the huge proving grounds in Arjeplog, Sweden. The thick ice of the frozen lakes offers Porsche test drivers the ideal base of approximately 90% compacted snow surface – a more realistic setting than pure ice. With the low coefficient of friction over snow, it was all about traction and steering precision. Even when driving off-road, a Porsche 911 has to provide accurate feedback. Porsche brand ambassador Röhrl was enthused: “The car is incredibly fun to drive,” he said. “Everything works so precisely and calmly. No Porsche customer will believe all the things you can do with this car before driving it yourself.”

Intensive testing program in rocky and sandy deserts...The new 911 Dakar also had to prove itself on fast sandy tracks and on high dunes. In Dubai and Morocco, test drivers constantly and mercilessly drove the off-road sports car over steep dunes of 50 meters and in temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius. “Even in the desert, the 911 Dakar delivered dominant performance,” said Frank Moser, Vice President, 911/718 Model Line. “Here, in particular, the 911 Dakar can make the most of its conceptual advantages – the combination of low weight, increased ground clearance, a powerful rear engine and the short wheelbase provide an exhilarating driving experience. I was able to experience it myself during test drives in the Sahara”.

Bergmeister and Kern surprised by driving dynamics on all types of surfaces...Porsche brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister, as part of the car's development, also tested the 911 Dakar and was surprised by the unusual driving dynamics of the car. High-performance sports car, both on uneven surfaces and on asphalt: “I had no idea that a vehicle with this ground clearance and tires made for all terrains, on asphalt, would still look like a Porsche 911,” he said. he. Development driver Lars Kern was also surprised during testing for the final adjustments: “At first I didn't have the courage to push the car to its limits. But I'm very satisfied with the handling over uneven surfaces. Even the ABS is optimized for gravel braking. It's amazing how much traction off-road tires provide. It's a lot of fun to drive the car.”

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