- A new Porsche 911 Dakar is reportedly coming in late 2025
- The formula is expected to remain the same but with Porsche’s new T-Hybrid powertrain added to the mix
- The addition of hybrid technology should enhance both performance and efficiency
Porsche’s rugged 911 Dakar may be set for a return as part of the refreshed 992-generation Porsche 911 lineup.
Citing anonymous senior sources, Autocar reported on Tuesday that Porsche plans to bring back the 911 Dakar, keeping it as a limited edition but adding the hybrid powertrain from the updated Carrera GTS. The launch is reportedly planned for late this year.
The original 911 Dakar was offered for the 2023 model year only, in a limited run of 2,500 cars. Upgrades included a 2.0-inch lift kit over the base 911 Carrera, plus a hydraulic lift system that raises the ride height by an additional 1.2 inches. Standard all-wheel drive, a fixed rear spoiler, flared wheel arches, and all-terrain tires further accentuated its rugged appeal, while peak power of 473 hp came from the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter flat-6 borrowed from the pre-updated Carrera GTS.
With the new hybrid powertrain, power and efficiency (and thus range) should be improved. The powertrain, which Porsche calls the T-Hybrid, consists of a compact and lightweight electric motor integrated with the 911’s standard 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The electric motor generates 54 hp on its own and assists the gas engine, in this case a newly developed turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-6 producing 478 hp. The turbocharger also features its own electric motor designed to speed up the compressor wheel at low rpm, ensuring boost pressure develops quickly.
2025 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS
The combined peak output of the system is 532 hp, enough for 0-60 mph acceleration in 2.9 seconds for the Carrera GTS. Acceleration might be slower in the new 911 Dakar, though potentially still quicker than the original model’s 3.2 seconds.
Autocar also reported that the new 911 Dakar will arrive with a steeper starting price than the original, which was priced from $223,450, including a $1,450 destination charge.
New liveries are also likely, with bespoke designs possible via Porsche’s Sonderwunsch personalization program. Last year, Sonderwunsch gave the last of the 2,500 original 911 Dakars a bespoke livery echoing the Rothmans 911 design from the 1984 Dakar Rally.
