Porsche and Singer have created two similar, yet very different all-terrain sports cars and here's how they stack up against each other
by Dimitar Angelov on July 30, 2024, 06:00Porsche has proven, on numerous occasions, that the 911 is one of the most versatile platforms. Since its introduction, in 1964, there have been countless variants of the German, rear-engine sports car, including all-terrain variants bred for rallying. Porsche offers a 911 for every taste and need, and with the 992 generation, it also brought out the 911 Dakar – a true, off-road sports car by Porsche that pays homage to the classic Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 Paris-Dakar 4x4 (953) from 1984. But a US-based company has also undertaken the task of reimagining the rally-bred Porsche 911.
Singer developed its own interpretation of the all-terrain 911, dubbed the ACS – All-terrain Competition Study. The Singer ACS was introduced more than a year earlier than the Porsche 992 Dakar, which came out in November 2022 (for the 2023 model year). However, Porsche objected to Singer’s use of "Porsche” lettering on the molded side sills, which caused Singer to take the ACS off social media platforms, and go back to the drawing board. The two off-road sports cars may look very similar at first glance, but despite what your eyes tell you, they have more than a few differences. Here’s how they compare.
Key Differences Between The Singer ACS And Porsche 911 (992) Dakar
The Porsche 911 Dakar and Singer ACS are, both, engineered for all-terrain versatility. They are meant to go, pretty much, anywhere a traditional off-road vehicle can go, but with the added performance of a sports car. That said, one is much newer than the other when it comes to the platform.
By tradition, all Singer cars are based on the Porsche 964 platform. The Singer ACS is based on a 1990 Porsche 964, which has received extensive chassis modifications. Singer’s off-road sports car features strengthened monocoque and long-travel suspension with two dampers in each corner. The body panels are carbon-fiber and meant for quick replacement.
The Singer ACS was built for grueling, long-distance rallying over rough terrains and would be available with specialized equipment, including
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Long-range fuel tank
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2x spare tires - one in the front trunk, one behind the driver and navigator
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Full, FIA-spec roll-cage
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Rehydration system for the driver and navigator
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Bespoke, FIA-certified racing seats
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Race-spec GPS navigation
The Porsche 911 Dakar is based on the 992.1 Carrera 4 GTS. This includes everything from the chassis, powertrain, and transmission. Certain body panels are made from carbon fiber for reduced weight, which means that despite all the off-road modifications, the 911 Dakar weighs just 99 pounds (45 kg) more than the regular Porsche 992.1 Carrera 4 GTS, upon which it is based. The suspension has been lifted by 2.0 inches and can be raised by an additional 1.2 inches when needed, for a total of 3.2 inches over the regular Carrera 4 GTS. The 992 Dakar can also be driven at maximum ride height at speeds of up to 105 mph.
2021 Singer ACS | 2023 Porsche 911 (992.1) Dakar | |
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Exterior features | All-carbon-fiber body panels, protective underbody plates, front and rear clamshells, 8x16 Forged aluminum wheels | Lightweight glass, hood and spoiler made of carbon fiber protective plates, Porsche 953-inspired racing livery (optional), Dakar, center-lock wheels - 19’front, 20’ rear, roof-mounted basket with flood lights (optional) |
Interior features | Competition-spec, stripped interior with carbon-fiber bucket seats Race-spec GPS navigation, spare tire behind the front seats, detachable steering wheel, hydraulic handbrake, full roll-cage | Traditional 992 interior with sports seats (or optionally, standard 911 seats), rear-seat delete, heated GT steering wheel |
Aerodynamic features | Safari-style front and rear bumpers, rear wing integrated into the rear clamshell | Active aero-delete, fixed, carbon-fiber rear spoiler |
Chassis features | Reinforced monocoque chassis, FIA-spec full roll-cage, 5-way adjustable dampers | Sport chassis 50 mm higher than the standard 992.1 Carrera 4 GTS, with up to 80mm more ground clearance body cladding, 2.0-inch suspension lift (3.2 inches max lift) |
Mechanical features | 3.6-liter, air-cooled, twin-turbo flat-six, based on the Mezger design, 2 dampers per wheel (8 total), 265 mm of suspension travel, 3 limited-slip differentials, permanent AWD, | water-cooled flat-six engine derived from the Porsche 992.1 Carrera 4 GTS, PDK transmission, Full-time AWD |
Tires | 16-inch BF Goodrich all-terrain tires | Pirelli Scorpion Plus All-terrain tires - 245/45 R19 (front), 295/40 R20 (rear) |
Brakes | 4-piston, Monobloc steel brakes | 4-piston callipers, 350 mm rotors |
Price | Over $1.0 million | $223,450 |
Production | 2 prototypes | Limited to 2,500 units |
Performance: 2021 Singer ACS Vs. 2023 Porsche 911 Dakar
Both rear-engine, off-road sports cars were conceived before Porsche’s first hybrid 911. This means they, both, rely on Porsche’s iconic boxer engine, which is a staple in the classic Porsche sports car. That said, there is one key difference. While Porsche has long done away with air-cooled engines, opting to use a water-cooled unit in the 992 Dakar, the Singer ACS is motivated by an air-cooled flat-six. Porsche has been Singer’s official engine supplier for a couple of years now, which means the air-cooled flat-six in the Singer ACS is a true Porsche design. Moreover, it is based on the iconic Mezger engine, which over a few decades, has powered most of Porsche’s sports cars and competition variants.
2021 Singer ACS | 2023 Porsche 911 (992.1) Dakar | |
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Engine | 3.6-liter, twin-turbo, air-cooled, flat-6 | 3.0-liter, twin-turbo, water-cooled, flat-6 |
Power | 450-600 hp | 473 hp |
Torque | 420 lb-ft | 420 lb-ft |
Transmission | 5-speed sequential | 8-speed PDK automatic |
Drivetrain | Permanent AWD | On-demand AWD |
Curb weight | TBA | 3,538 lbs |
0-60 mph | TBA | 3.4 seconds |
Top speed | TBA | 149 mph (limited) |
Dimitar Angelov
Dim has been an automotive journalist since 2014. Although he is interested in all things automotive, his main interests revolve around, Asian, classic, and sports cars. He is particularly fond of Porsche sports cars as well as JDM classics from Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and others. Dim operates mainly from Bulgaria, but can, occasionally, be seen attending Europe's most reputable Auto shows, and events. Read full bio