By Lee Sibley
1 year ago
Is this the incoming Dakar 911?
9WERKS spies have spotted a Porsche 911 safari mule back in testing at the 'Ring…
Porsche is ramping up development of its new 911 safari project, which has involved ramping up the 992’s ground clearance – in a move which looks set to incorporate fully adjustable, twin axle air suspension for the first time.
As you can see from our pictures, the high-riding safari prototype shows two different setups by way of ground clearance, on different laps. 9WERKS spies confirmed the two laps were performed in succession by the same vehicle, which points to the 911 being fitted with air suspension.
Categories
Elsewhere, we can see extended fenders both front and rear, plus a new – though as yet hidden – design on the front and rear bumpers. Mesh grilles are fitted behind the front bumper's gaping air vents.
A 992 GT3-style air vent ahead of the front boot lid is also visible, though the style and positioning of the mule’s exhausts hints at the use of Porsche’s 3.0-litre, turbocharged 9A2 Evo flat six engine as used throughout its current 992 Carrera range.
A 992 GT3-style air vent ahead of the front boot lid is also visible, though the style and positioning of the mule’s exhausts hints at the use of Porsche’s 3.0-litre, turbocharged 9A2 Evo flat six engine as used throughout its current 992 Carrera range.
A safari-spec 911 from Porsche has been rumoured for a while now, with previous mules seen in testing at the Nürburgring. However, the project looks to be gathering momentum, with ‘Dakar 911’ seemingly the name of choice, given Walter Rohrl recently using the hashtag #dakar911 on an Instagram post, which has since been deleted.
But there’s more: 9WERKS has spotted the Typ 953 – the original 4x4 911, which Rene Metge steered to victory at the 1984 Paris Dakar – currently undergoing a light, sympathetic restoration by the Porsche Classic team based at the Museum on Porscheplatz. The car, which was also known as the 911 Carrera 4x4 Paris Dakar, was a modified version of the 3.2 Carrera production Neunelfer of the time.
With the 40th anniversary of the first four-wheel-drive 911's Dakar success looming, it seems Porsche is ready to capitalise with a commemorative model release. It’s likely this new 992 will be the third of four Heritage Design Edition 911s promised by Porsche Exclusiv Manufaktur by the of 2023.
Photography courtesy CarPix AB
Photography courtesy CarPix AB