Check out the epic-looking Kalmar 'RS-6' 911

Have Dakar dreams, but a 996 budget? Kalmar is here to help

The car world is overlanding crazy at the moment, from Morgan CX-T to Lamborghini Huracan Sterrato. It’s not escaped the aftermarket, either, as proven by projects like the reborn Golf Country. Now things get really exciting: Kalmar, the Danish Porsche adventure specialist that you might remember from its Trans-Andes rally exploits, has made something called an RS-6. Consider it a 996 Dakar - one that looks absolutely brilliant.

Kalmar being the company that it is, the RS-6 employs no half measures: inspired by the previous, air-cooled Rally Special cars and on sale after a year of testing in minus 35 conditions, this Adventure Range-spec 996 promises ‘the thrill of expedition in an iconic sports car’. It rides 80mm higher than standard (for 210mm of ride height) with Kalmar’s own spring and adjustable damper set-up; top mounts, bushes and top mounts are beefed up, with a ‘roll centre adjusting subframe kit’ and strut brace also fitted. There’s underbody protection there, too, as well as a stronger towing point. Inside, the interior is stripped out, a half cage put in, and the standard seats replaced with buckets.

The really keen can pay extra for adaptive dampers or even hydraulic lift items which can drop the ride height down 50mm again; sounds like the Race mode of something like a Ford GT, and here offers the possibility of ‘turning the RS-6 from capable off-roader to low-slung sports car in seconds.’ Course the Kalmar 996 looks the part, too, with lightweight, narrow 16-inch wheels on all-terrain or even spiked tyres, a roof rack for jerry cans and spare tyres plus the obligatory LED light bar. Perhaps it’s nothing revolutionary, but the RS-6 does look a lot of fun. Beats yet another backdate, right?

That being said, Kalmar is open to personalisation and customisation requests for RS-6 commissions. This is not a fixed package of upgrades. In addition to the suspension parts, buyers can pay for a full cage, fly-off handbrake and timing system, for example, plus additional body protection and any colour combination so desired. Kalmar is keen for each 996 project to be unique, so if it's a retro 911 homage or completely new vision you have in mind, they’re willing to accommodate.

Mechanically, again, Kalmar will do as much or as little as you can to pay for. The RS-6 overhaul is compatible with the Carrera 2, Carrera 4 and Turbo with either gearbox; interestingly, the press release suggests that a 300hp Carrera could be taken to well over 500hp thanks to a ‘menu of tuning options’. Tasty. A 996-shaped take on a new Dakar with more power than the new car could be awesome.

Doing that will obviously cost more than the €45,000 (£38,500) plus taxes an RS-6 conversion starts at, but it isn’t hard to see why some might be tempted as 996s remain relatively affordable. This Carrera 4 would offer maximum mud-plugging potential, and is £12,990. Which is what some people paid for 964s before sending them to California, remember - spending lots on old 911s has certainly happened before. And you won’t see an off-road 996 at every car meet over the summer. Kalmar Automotive founder Jan Kalmar added: “RS-6 is designed and built to challenge your perception of where a 911 can take you. Thanks to the higher 996 production volumes, donor cars are readily available at a lower cost. Now, we can open up the thrill and fun of adventure driving in a Porsche to a new audience.” See you at the quarry.

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magic Monkey Dust

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