Porsche is preparing an all-terrain ‘Safari’ version of the 911, and these spy shots give us our best look yet at the jacked-up, rally-inspired sports automobile as it undergoes development.
These images reveal that the new variant will be based on the refreshed 992-generation 911, which will see minor design tweaks over the outgoing model.
2022 Porsche Taycan gets sport Turismo estate option
The raised ride height is right away obvious, and must allow the 911 Safari to tackle difficult terrain like few other sports cars. The wheel arches have been extended with black plastic body cladding to accommodate chunkier tyres, while a neater front bumper has been fitted as part of the facelift.
Advertisement – post continues below
The rear end is mainly concealed by camouflage, but we expect a revised lower bumper and a lot more plastic body protection for the Safari. This development prototype appears to wear Porsche’s SportDesign rear bumper, with the number plate mounted higher up, although it remains to be seen whether this optional styling package will be used with the facelift. The rear spoiler is new, too, which could be a Safari-specific item or part of the redesign.
Elsewhere, there are no air ducts incorporated into the rear haunches, suggesting this test automobile could be based on either the two-wheel drive Carrera 2S or a four-wheel drive Carrera 4S powertrain. That would indicate an output of either 380bhp or 444bhp. In buy to maximise off-road capability, the four-wheel drive set-up of the 4S is the a lot more likely option.
10
While we have no performance numbers, the conventional Carrera 4S with Porsche’s eight-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox sprints from 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds when optioned with the sport Chrono pack – although we’d expect a slightly slower time for a 911 Safari, but not by much.
Given the positive action Porsche specialist singer received when unveiling its ACS – a modern-day tribute to the 911 SC and 959 competitors Porsche entered into the Paris-Dakar Rally – a modernised Safari 911 could present an attractive service case for Porsche. The German brand has toyed with the idea of recreating its famous 1978 Porsche 911 SC ‘Safari’ rally automobile before, with a 2012 concept based on the 991-generation of Porsche’s rear-engined sports car.
The 911 Safari is one of two all-terrain high-performance sports automobiles currently undergoing development – we recently spied the Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato, a raised V10-powered off-road special that will see off the Huracan’s final days.
Check out our full thorough review of the current Porsche 911 here…
