When a manufacturer - particularly a sports car manufacturer - decides to produce a rally-inspired, ultra-capable off-roading machine, it's safe to say it sends the automotive world into somewhat of a frenzy. Porsche's introduction of the 911 Dakar is no exception to this rule. It emphasises Porsche's playful side, and proves that they can occasionally take themselves not-so-seriously. 

A tribute to Porsche's domination of the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1984 and 1986, the Dakar is essentially a jacked-up 911 Carrera 4 GTS, but with borrowed bits from the 992 GT3, along with all-new additions to both the exterior and interior to prepare it for the elements. This isn't to say that the Dakar is only to be used for off-roading, as the Dakar's suspension setup creates a fantastic daily driver too. Its ability to take whatever a driver can throw at it means that it's remarkably capable of tackling the pothole-ridden British roads. It also boasts impressive performance figures, with power sitting just slightly lower than the GT3 at 473bhp, resulting in a 0-62mph time of just 3.4 seconds. Top speed is limited to 149mph for a number of reasons - the primary reason being that the Dakar wears deep-tread off-road tyres as standard which run the risk of damage at higher speeds.

On the design front, the most obvious difference to the Dakar over a standard 911 is the aforementioned increase in ride height. The Dakar sits 50mm higher than the GTS on which it's based, with an ability to be raised to 80mm up to speeds of 105mph. Other differences include the (optional) adhesive decals which hark back to the '84 car, or if you're feeling really nostalgic, you can opt for the £21K Rallye Design Package, which gives you an accurate recreation of the original livery as well as various interior upgrades. Speaking of options, the list of available upgrades to the Dakar is extensive and very different to that of a standard 911. A roof-mounted tent (in Porsche branding of course), a folding spade, recovery boards and roof rack with front-mounted fog lights are all available to spec. 

The interior remains relatively unchanged when compared to the GTS, with subtle differences being introduced in the way of a dash-mounted number designation and Dakar-specific door sills. This is not a bad thing, however. Years of development and updates has crafted the 911's interior into the nigh-on masterpiece that it is today. Use of ultra-high-quality materials, sculpted into perfectly ergonomic buttons, dials and toggle switches, compliment the usual Porsche attention to detail and immense build quality resulting in a truly beautiful cabin. 

In a time when the whole automotive industry is seemingly erring towards the sensible, the Dakar is a breath of fresh air with its playful nature and extensive customisation possibilities. Boasting gleaming reviews and forcing a smile upon even the most sceptical of journalists' faces, the gamble that Porsche have taken with the Dakar has seemingly more than paid off, having sold all 2500 units prior to production.