Porsche fans who share an interest in rally cars have something incredible to look forward to soon if the rumors are true, as word has it that Porsche is planning to release an updated 911 Dakar for model year 2026. The Dakar stands out from the rest of the 911 lineup because Porsche built it for more than the road and track; it's a proper off-road vehicle as well.

Refreshed 911 Lineup

Porsche has big plans for the beloved 911 line, which carries rumors that it will also include the Dakar with an upgraded hybrid powertrain. Right now, Porsche's engineers are hard at work revamping and refreshing the 911 lineup as part of the 992-series update, which will offer plenty of changes for different models.

Rumored Hybrid Upgrade

While many things can change during a vehicle's production, the 2025 Porsche 911 GTS provides a potential sneak peek at what will be running the show under the hood for the refreshed, rebooted Dakar. Porsche implemented its innovative T-Hybrid drivetrain system in the 992.2-generation 911 GTS, which is a beast of an electric turbocharged 3.6-liter flat-six engine paired with an electric motor mounted on the transmission. The two systems combine to offer a staggering 532 horsepower and 449 lb.-ft. of torque, which is a substantial upgrade over the last Dakar that pushed a still impressive 473 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque.

If Porsche goes with the new T-Hybrid system in the Dakar, it will represent a 59-horsepower and 29 lb.-ft. of torque performance increase. The 2024 Dakar posted a "blink and you'll miss it" 2.9-second 0 to 60 time without the added kick from an electric motor, so the redesigned model should offer an even faster acceleration speed. While generally not a primary concern with high-end sports cars, the electric motor should also provide improved fuel economy, in the 26 MPG range, which is nice to have. Additionally, the vehicle may use Porsche's heat transfer technology to power the battery, which the company uses in the 919.

Defining a New Niche

The Porsche 911 Dakar is a newer variation of the popular, iconic 911. Porsche custom-tailored the Dakar for off-road driving in addition to being an eye-catching city car. The vehicle's unique spin on the sports car concept pioneers a new niche with all-terrain sports cars. The 911 Dakar gets its name from the Dakar Rally off-road endurance event, and Porsche built 2,500 of them during the last 2024 model year run.