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 9,000+ 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 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BMW M135 xDrive
The M135 has lost an and gained chassis revisions and a restyle. Is it enough to make it a benchmark hot hatch?
Audi S5
S5 by name, S4 by nature, is Audi's new mid-size petrol-powered saloon a step in the right direction?
Lamborghini Urus SE
Lambo's super-SUV gets a major mid-life overhaul, going hybrid in the process. Has it become any easier to like?
HALL evo OF FAME
The evo Hall of Fame was established to recognise the great and the good of our corner of the universe. Prepare to welcome this year's inductees
CIRCUIT DAY
After three days of assessing their behaviour on the road, it's time to head to the Circuito de Navarra to find out how our nine contenders respond when their handling limits are explored
EVO CAR OF THE YEAR 2024
Nine brilliant cars, from flyweight roadsters to bombastic supercars to a be-stickered estate(!), do battle on some of Europe's finest and most spectacular roads. Which will emerge victorious? Place your bets now.
Porsche Panamera GTS
It lacks the raw power of its hybrid rivals, but does the new GTS’s more traditional approach give it its USP?
Alpine A290 GTS
The new electric Renault 5 has won plenty of plaudits. Is the hotter Alpine version a car to win petrolheads' hearts too?
BEST BUYS BMW M CARS
THE PERFORMANCE CAR LANDSCAPE WOULD HAVE looked very different over the last five decades without BMW. Its M division, founded in 1972, has produced some of the best driver’s cars ever to hit the road, and in the process has provided a stream of benchmark models for its rivals to chase. In recent years, stricter emissions regulations, downsizing and electrification have seen some of those rival cars falter, yet by and large BMW’s M machines have remained strong. In fact, some rank among the greatest the department has made think of the eCoty-winning M2 CS and M5 CS while others are the only options worth recommending in their respective segments. Price tags have risen with performance, however, putting those latest offerings out of reach for many, but the marque’s popularity means there are numerous earlier M models available on the second-hand market for far more attainable figures. Here are four of our favourites.
TYRE 2024 TEST
Want to fit the very best tyres to your performance car? The annual evo Tyre Test identifies the cream of the current crop