The Volkswagen Group may not have a respectable off-roader in its vast portfolio – well, perhaps the Amarok – but it certainly knows how to make robust derivatives from its regular models. From Skoda’s Scout and VW’s Alltrack to Audi’s Allroad and Porsche’s Cross Turismo, VAG offers many models for those who don’t like SUVs, but want some of their added versatility.
Another newcomer from Stuttgart that fits this profile is the 911 Safari (name not confirmed). Contrary to the unique creation of the 911 that has been kept secret for many years, this prototype is expected to turn into a production car. Whether it will be a regular trim level or a special limited edition is yet to be seen, but people with deep pockets looking for a more adventurous version of the iconic sports car should get one.
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The test vehicle was detected in a winter wonderland somewhere in northern Europe, although it looked a lot like a standard 911. However, there are some discreet changes that are worth pointing out. Increasing the height of the sidewalk is one of them, while the wheel arch extensions are also noticeable. In addition, Porsche has adjusted the bumpers to improve approach and departure angles.
You can easily see that the front bumper was slightly scraped while the back plate was positioned higher to redesign the bumper and make it ready for some moderate off-road adventures. We expect the production version to have some sturdy tires and a tailored alloy wheel design, along with some other subtle changes to separate the “Safari” from the more performance-oriented 911s.
Considering that Porsche has been testing augmented 911 prototypes since at least October 2020, when our spies caught one on camera, the official debut could take place later this year. It would make sense to offer the “Safari” with standard four-wheel drive, so perhaps the donor car is the 4S model. Expect to pay a significant premium over the standard 4S of $ 122,400 due to the extra off-road benefits. The power could remain the same with 443 hp from a 3.0-liter, six-cylinder biturbo engine that produced 530 Newton-meters of torque.
In addition to Safari, spy shots have shown that there are another 911 in the pipeline to follow the recently launched GT3. The GTS is one of them, along with a GT3 Touring, a GT3 RS and, eventually, a new GT2 RS. Porsche has also announced that a hybrid will arrive sooner or later, and who knows what the boys and girls of Zuffenhausen are also planning ahead.