Off-road Neun Elfer: 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar now in PH

PGA Cars Inc now has the high-riding Porsche 911 Dakar

Porsche's Philippine distributor PGA Cars Inc. has quite literally elevated the 911 driving experience. After announcing its upcoming arrival a few days ago, the Porsche 911 Dakar has officially made its Philippine debut.

Serving as the Stuttgart brand’s most capable 911 when going off the beaten path, the 911 Dakar not only rides tall but gets a heaping serving of chassis upgrades plus more. Starting with the most obvious first, the 911 Dakar gets a 2-inch lift (or 50mm) which gives it extra ground clearance when going off-road.

Should you need more lift, the driver can activate “High-Level” off-road mode which can be activated via the steering wheel. This gives the 911 Dakar an extra 1.2 inches of lift (or 30mm), resulting in a total of 3.2 inches of extra ground clearance. Driving in this mode, however, limits the top speed of the vehicle to only 170 km/h which is still quite fast for a high-riding 911.

Don’t expect a regular set of tires on this 911 as the Dakar comes with all-terrain Pirelli Scorpions. The front set measures 245/45/ZR19 while the rear comes in at 295/40/ZR20. Not only that but the Pirelli Scorpions feature deep tread blocks and carcass piles for extra durability, particularly for the sidewall. Last but not least, the chassis has been reinforced to prevent damage from rocks and other debris while going off-road.

At the heart of the 911 Dakar is a 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six that cranks out 480 PS and 570 Nm of torque. It is then mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission that sends power to all four wheels. Despite its tall ride height, the 911 Dakar can go from 0 - 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 240 km/h.

Helping the 911 Dakar take on uneven terrain comes courtesy of a specific driving mode called “Rally”. This particular mode is ideal for loose, uneven surfaces and sends most of the power to the rear wheels. There’s also the feature called “Rally Launch Control” which allows 20% wheel slip in off-road conditions. For extra handling capability, the 911 Dakar also comes with the brand's high-tech PDCC anti-roll stabilization to keep it planted no matter the terrain or off-road conditions.

Hop inside and the 911 Dakar greets you with a pair of lightweight bucket seats and a roll cage that does away with the rear seats. Lightweight glass along with an equally lightweight battery ensures that 911 Dakar is lighter than your typical 911. Porsche claims the 911 Dakar comes in at 1,605 kg which is 10 kg heavier than the 911 Carrera 4 GTS PDK.

Also worth mentioning is the Race-Tex surfaces across the interior, complemented by decorative stitching in Shade Green. Speaking of Shade Green, this particular color is also available for the 911 Dakar's exterior.

With only 2,500 examples built in total, having an officially imported 911 Dakar here in the Philippines is quite the sight, though there are gray market units that have been spotted. While it would be nice to see this high-riding Porsche hitting the roads very soon, the owner is most likely a collector who will make it a garage queen.