Porsche is a company rich with pedigree. Never afraid to pay tribute to its heritage, Porsche reveals a new model every so often to honor its success in motorsport events of the past. The 911 Endurance Racing Edition, the GT2 Clubsport RS, and the limited-run track-only 935 are fitting examples of Porsche honoring its roots. The latest addition to this roster is the Porsche 911 Dakar, brought as an homage to the brand’s legacy at the Paris-Dakar Rally.

Porsche won the race in 1984 with the 953 (a modified version of the 911), driven by Rene Metge and Dominique Lemoyne. As a reimagination of its race-winning predecessor, the new Porsche 911 Dakar made its first public appearance not too long ago at the 2022 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Porsche has plans for just 2,500 copies of the 911 Dakar, and as you might’ve guessed, it ain’t cheap. In fact, after you tick some of the optional items, the list price of a 911 Dakar can cross the $270,000 mark.

Part of that significant chunk of change is the Rallye Design Package. If optioned, Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur will paint your 911 Dakar in a special two-tone exterior finish with the classic Rothmans livery, a paint job that takes 34 hours to perfect. Here’s a closer look.

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A Brief About The Porsche 911 Dakar

All New Porsche 911 Dakar
Source: Porsche

The Paris-Dakar Rally is one of the toughest motorsport events of the year. Held across grueling terrain and lasting multiple days, the event separates the men from the boys, testing the limits of off-road racing to crown the best in the world. Winning the event is no small feat. While its predecessor is about as analog as things get, the 992-based Dakar is a different breed altogether.

Under the hood of the 911 Dakar is the drivetrain from a Carrera 4 GTS. A 3.0L twin-turbocharged flat-six engine sends 473 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Two new driving modes, "Rallye" and "Offroad" help set the car up to perform off the beaten track. Porsche claims the Dakar will hit 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and top out at 150 mph.

2023 Porsche 911 Dakar Passenger 1/2
Porsche

The Dakar comes standard with Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain tires sized 245/45 ZR 19 in the front and 295/40 ZR 20 for the rear. These specially designed tires have nine millimeters of tread and reinforced sidewalls. Additionally, the car has been modified to provide up to 80mm (3.14 inches) of additional ground clearance. Sports suspension raises the ride height by 50mm (1.96 inches), and an additional 30mm (1.18 inches) can be gained by utilizing the car's lift system.

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What’s So Special About The Porsche 911 Dakar’s Exclusive Paint?

LA Auto Show Porsche 911 Dakar Front Three Quarters
via Michael Van Runkle / HotCars

So the Dakar with Rallye Design Package comes in a combo shade of Gentian Blue and white. It’s a smashing color combo, harking back to the original. However, the race car may not have received the TLC that this 911 Dakar gets. The 992-based car starts off in white, which is then sprayed with a clear coat and sanded. After priming and sanding, the 911 Dakar gets a single layer of Gentian Blue Metallic, hand painted of course, followed by two additional layers of clear coat. According to Porsche, this process takes approximately 7.5 hours to complete.

Most PTS (Paint To Sample) Porsches go through a similar process, although perhaps not to a T. If you didn’t know, PTS Porsches ordered via Exclusive Manufaktur usually take around eight months to complete, with special hand-painted finishes taking even longer.

Once everything is dry, the 911 Dakar body is sent to the production line for assembly, which is then sent to Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur for partial disassembly, adding another 8.5 hours to the process.

Porsche 911 Dakar Rally Special Side View
via Porsche

Before you judge Porsche’s lack of organizing skills, remember that it’s a special-order item. Not a lot of people are ordering a near $300,000 limited-run Porsche. Besides, it’s not an economically sound proposition to set up a new assembly line for just 2,500 cars.

At Exclusive Manufaktur, the 911 Dakar gets the red and gold stripes that complete the Rothmans' livery. The car is then reassembled, inspected, and shipped to a dealership. Costing an additional $28,470 over the Dakar’s base $222,000 MSRP, the Rallye Design Package is one of the most expensive upgrades available for this limited-run 911. The package also includes black seats with Shark Blue seat belts and Ceramica trim, in case you were wondering. Opt for the $3,740 Extended Rallye Design Package, and it adds Race-Tex and Shark Blue stitching to other areas of the car, including the door-sill guards, fuse box covers, interior mirror panel, air vent slots, and even the owner's manual.

Sources: Porsche