HOW MUCH OF A PURIST do you have to be to be accepted into The Club? And does it even matter if you don't adhere to a set of rules that were most likely defined by a collection of opinionated individuals who you've probably never met, and whose opinion might not matter a whole lot anyway? Thing is, most self-anointed purists will tell you that rules exist merely to be broken, and if that's true then the Dakar heretic as it will no doubt be regarded by some - is surely one of the most intriguing new 911s of the last 30 years.
Think about it. Ever since Dr Ulrich Bez reinvented the 964 and turned it into the 993 almost one third of a century ago, Porsche has crafted the 911 into a sports car with an extraordinary breadth of ability while maintaining its credibility, despite there being a version to suit seemingly anyone with an interest in fast cars. You want a track-focused monster? Buy a GT3. You want a track-focused monster with the aero of a single-seater racing car? Buy a GT3 RS. You want transcontinental cruising civility mated to even more straight-line thunder than you get with a GT3? Buy a Turbo S.
And so it goes on, down past the excellent new Carrera T, all the way south to the basic rear-wheel-drive Carrera, which sits so confidently at the bottom of the top table. The sheer depth of the 911's appeal is pretty breathtaking in 2023. Yet, a stroke, Porsche has broadened its appeal even further still, by introducing the go-anywhere, do-anything 911 Dakar.
What we are talking about here is a 911 that's based heavily on a regular GTS (same engine, gearbox, four-wheel steering, four-wheel drive, brakes and fundamental suspension design) but also happens to be able to cross deserts and climb mountains. It's so capable in the dirt, it could even appeal to the sort of punters who might normally only consider a seriously hard-edged 4x4.
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Evo UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Evo UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Tiff Needell
From Morris Travellers to McLarens, via Le Mans and F1, television's original Mr Sideways talks about his behind-the-wheel highlights
Aston Martin DB12 Volante
The drop-top version of Aston Martin's super tourer’ has arrived, complete with the same 6/lbhp V8 and 202mph top speed. But the need for a calmer soul lingers
BEST BUYS
Sam Jenkins
THE ANATOMY OF A PENSKE 123 INDYCAR
For a while in the '90s, IndyCar challenged Formula 1 as the premier form of motorsport; we look under the skin of a Penske PC23 from the series' golden era
TECHNOLOGY OVERLOAD?
Do today's car interfaces ask too much of the driver? And how can they be improved? We get an Airbus pilot's expert opinion
ARCH RIVALS
Audi's RS4 is going out on a high with the Competition version; Alfa Romeo's Giulia Quadrifoglio fights on with a new facelift. The two meet for a shootout
BLUE FUNDAY
The road-going Maserati MC20 was evo Car of the Year 2022, so great things are expected of the GT2 race version. We head for the Autodromo di Modena to find out if it delivers
Vredestein Ultrac Pro
New high performance tyre claims unique blend of grip and ride comfort. We put it to the test
Virtual sanity
Can sophisticated driving simulators replace costly, physical prototypes? We visit the new £4m Horiba MIRA simulator complex to take a digital drive
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
A package of updates for 2024 ensures the Giulia's sister car remains the most super of super-SUVs