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Off-Road Porsche 911 Dakar to Reportedly Return with Hybrid Powertrain

The Dakar is set to return, possibly for the 2026 model year, according to a . The updated Dakar is expected to utilize the that . The T-Hybrid system produces 532 horsepower and 449 pound-feet of torque, a substantial increase over the previous Dakar's 473 ponies and 420 pound-feet. Porsche loves to cash in on its decades of motorsport heritage. While this typically comes in the form of lowered, winged track monsters, such as the Porsche 935, the automaker broke into new territory when it revealed the 911 Dakar in late 2022. Drawing inspiration from Porsche's Dakar Rally-winning off-roaders from the 1980s, the 911 Dakar carved out a new niche: the all-terrain sports car. Porsche only built 2500 Dakars between 2023 and 2024, but now there's a rumor that the Dakar nameplate will return, according to a report from Autocar, and this time it will pack hybrid power. According to Autocar's sources, the next iteration of the Dakar is currently under development at Porsche's Weissach engineering facility and will join the refreshed 911 lineup in the near future. The Dakar will continue to sport a more adventurous design, with a raised ride height and tougher-looking bumpers at the front and rear. The Dakar should also retain the eight-speed automatic gearbox and, of course, all-wheel drive. But the big change is that the upcoming Dakar is expected to be powered by the new T-Hybrid system that debuted in the 911 GTS for the 2025 model year. The T-Hybrid pairs the 3.6-liter flat-six engine with an electric turbocharger and a gearbox-mounted electric motor. The e-motor injects 54 horsepower and 110 pound-feet of torque, taking the GTS's combined output to 532 horsepower and 449 pound-feet of torque. If the refreshed Dakar does indeed receive the T-Hybrid setup, it would represent an increase of 59 ponies and 29 pound-feet of torque. The nonhybrid Dakar zipped from zero to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds, but the extra oomph from the hybrid powertrain should make the Dakar even quicker. The addition of the electric motor and the small battery should also result in a slight increase in fuel efficiency. The arrival of a new Dakar could come as soon as next year, with Autocar reporting that a debut has been set for the end of 2025. Like the previous Dakar, the new version will also be a limited-production affair. Porsche offered a number of eye-catching liveries on the previous Dakar, and we expect the new version to come with even more options and customization opportunities via Porsche's Sonderwunsch program. You Might Also Like Car and Driver's 10 Best Cars through the Decades How to Buy or Lease a New Car Lightning Lap Legends: Chevrolet Camaro vs. Ford Mustang!