The Porsche 911 Dakar is likely one of the extra intriguing variants of the famed 911 that the German model has ever produced and by regular sports activities automotive requirements, it doesn’t make a lot logical sense. However is that half of its attraction?

Wanting to see what the brand new automotive is able to, Chris Harris jumped behind the wheel of 1 at a rally cross monitor within the UK, offering him the chance to check it each on the tarmac and on gravel.

The automotive relies on the 911 Carrera 4 GTS and due to this fact contains a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-six pumping out 473 hp and 420 lb-ft (570 Nm). Whereas these figures actually aren’t earth-shattering, they’re sufficient to ship the 911 Dakar to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.2 seconds and thru to a restricted high velocity of 146 mph (236 km/h).

Learn: 2023 Porsche Dakar Is The Slowest 911 Since The ’80s, However We Need One So Badly

Whereas initially driving the automotive on the gravel part of the circuit, Harris notes that like all different 911 fashions, it has excellent chassis stability in addition to glorious steering. He additionally thinks the exhaust sounds a lot louder from contained in the cabin than every other 911 and in ordinary Harris fashion, completely drifts it across the circuit’s corners. He seems so enamored with the automotive that he suggests it’d even be extra enjoyable to drive than 911 GT3 and that’s actually saying one thing.

This particular model of the 911 isn’t low-cost, nonetheless. In reality, costs for a brand new 911 Dakar begin at $223,450, properly past the $161,100 MSRP of the Porsche 911 GT3 within the U.S. and on par with the 911 GT3 RS and its $223,800 base worth. Would we pay that a lot for a 911 that doesn’t have a screaming naturally-aspirated six-cylinder? In all probability not, however what about you?