Outfitting a sports car for off-road duty is something that, in my youth, was only ever attempted by folks like David Tracy. Individuals with the know-how and desire to go off-roading but at a quicker pace than most others. Long before that though, factory-backed rally cars proved the concept with examples like the Porsche 959, the Lancia Stratos, and the Ford RS200.
Today, some automakers are heading back off-road with their production sports cars. We’ve seen that from Porsche with the 911 Dakar and from Lamborghini with the Huracan Sterrato. There are rumors about a few more brands and models following that trajectory in the coming years too. Today, The Autopian Asks: which sports cars should get an off-road version?
The 911 Dakar and Huracan Sterrato follow a somewhat simple recipe that works great for both of them. They each get more ground clearance than the standard version of their own respective model. Each adds more off-road-friendly tires too. The Lamborghini even has a cool roof-mounted intake snorkel situation.
It’s not hard to imagine several other modern sports cars that could benefit from similar modifications. First, let’s talk about perhaps the loudest and most likely rumor to come true. It’s none other than the Ford Mustang Raptor.
What’s better than one animal-themed name? How about two animal names that don’t relate to one another at all? Hey, we already have the Bronco Raptor so the DNA is already mishmashed between horses and birds. Truly though, a Mustang Raptor would be very on-brand for Ford.
The Raptor brand itself already has four models if we count both of the F-150 variants. Ford also has a background in rally racing so why not bring some of that into the Mustang stable for a Raptor version?
Don’t forget that there is currently a Mustang Mach-E Rally on sale as you read this. Sure, it’s an EV and “not really a Mustang” in the eyes of many, but Ford clearly knows how to mix high-speed off-road capability into its offerings. The two-door Mustang should be next.
The all-new Corvette ZR1 might be getting the headlines right now but if rumors are true, it’s going to expand to become its own sub-brand in the not-to-distant future. How does one branch out from a straightforward sports car?
Evidently into the SUV and sedan market but wouldn’t it be simpler to grow the lineup with an off-road version of the Vette? We’re not the only ones thinking this way. Back in 2022, CorvetteBlogger.com brought up the idea and it makes even more sense today.
Building a Corvette SUV and a Corvette sedan is bound to be a complex and lengthy process filled with costly endeavors. It stands to reason that outfitting the E-Ray, which already has AWD, with a little lift kit and some off-road rubber could be much cheaper.
No doubt, there are several other options available for this sort of treatment. Dodge might be able to pull it off with the upcoming two-door Charger. Toyota might sell even more GR Corollas if there was a slightly lifted more rally-focused version.
Subaru could attempt to get some of its soul back with a dirt-loving BRZ. All of these are just fun ideas but now it’s your turn. Which sports car deserves its own off-road version? Lets us know in the comments below!
It’s not really a sports car, but…
How about a legit off road version of the Toyota Sienna? Give it a real 4wd system, some low range, a modest lift and some bigger tires. Hit those logging roads with the whole family!
Like a Mitsubishi Delica – but bigger.
Ariel Atom…..oh, wait, nevermind. The Ariel Nomad Tactical would like a word.
Ah the Nomad. The want is strong.
Pagani Utopia or the old Zonda.
The Challenger would be a great “every man’s” off road sports car. It was always the overweight, truck like third position sports car relative to the Camaro and Mustang, so it’s almost like it’s fulfilling the prophecy. Some people are already doing it, and there is even a company dedicated to building them lift kits.
https://www.challengerforumz.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,onerror=redirect,width=1920,height=1920,fit=scale-down/https://www.challengerforumz.com/attachments/1614131514236-png.271831/
https://offroadsally.com/?srsltid=AfmBOor8HYKlHanFwHxynKZ5Oi73njng-Fja1wwpCCHn4mm2HbmaMpty
It’s a shame it’s out of production….
I think Porsche should make a Cayman Monte Carlo to compliment the 911 Dakar. Give us the modern Stratos that no one’s willing to make. It doesn’t need to be lifted or faster, just give us smaller wheels/fatter sidewalls and a short-ratio gearbox, it’s fine if you have to fit it to a 2L engine, Label 1st “Gelande” like the 959 so you can do the drive-by noise test in 3rd and fit it with a quieter exhaust, just give us the good gearing. While we’re at it, Alpine can join the tall-sidewall party, too, for heritage or whatever.
Hard agree on the GR86 and soft agree on the Corvette, bring on the Nissan Z while we’re at it. Anything to revive 2WD rally. Maybe a non-Countryman Mini Cooper S dirt trim for old time’s sake, and a Fiat 500 Abarth, as long as it’s not a 500X but a real 500.
Really, I’d rather see a Mini Moke or Fiat Jolly revived. Bring back the New Beetle with chunky tires and call it a Baja, maybe throw a Golf R drivetrain in there for shits and giggles. Get silly with it, off-road sports cars are inherently silly.
If impossible business cases are off the table, give us an E-tron GT Allroad, because why wouldn’t you? It’ll print money.
The WRX already has the stupid plastic fenders, so put the tires on it to match.
BMW could do it with the M240i. I think it’d be way too heavy and they’d definitely be lame about it and go AWD-only, but at least there’s a tenuous connection to the 2002.
Truly, if you ignore the appearance, the functional difference is wheels, tires and coilovers. Maybe a traction control tune and some skid pans, if you’re lucky. So I think this type of thing should remain an at-home build, because it’s more interesting that way, and then it actually gets taken off-road.
I think Chevy should come out with a Monte Carlo Cayman, with a landau roof and swiveling Stratobucket seats in rich simulated Amazonian alligatoroid skin, big bulges in those swooping Bill Mitchell neoclassic fenders to accommodate the off-road tires and a super-duper-secret storage bin for a little petty cash that no taxing authority will ever be able to find.
I am mortified, confused and intrigued.
Then my work here is done.
None. Basically none of them go offroad anyway. The entire trend is stupid and just instagram bullshit.
Though WhistlinDiesel already proved they’re good enough offroad stock, I don’t see why Ferrari can’t make a Sterrato competitor out of the SF90.
Frankly you’d have to get Ferrari to do it for you, because otherwise they’d sue you for lifting an SF90.
Chevy Blazer
Any car with that requies a front axle lift system to get into mildly steep driveways and parking lots
Mazda Miata… They would sell like hotcakes
BRZ! Might tempt me into trading mine in even…
You might like my BRZ rally car then 🙂
https://www.instagram.com/escuderiaboricua/
Nice!!! That’s awesome!!
MGB! I’d follow that with a Porsche 928.
NOPE
Golf R
Poor man’s offroading GolfR: VW Golf Alltrack with 1.8T and a chip.
Which is why I was thinking Golf R. Homage to the Alltrack
I mean, the Mustang, obviously. It should at least have a chance of surviving going over a curb…or bodies.
real shame we never got another Quattro
Didn’t read the article… they should do an offroad Mustang.
On the way, supposedly
X5M. There, I said it.
Current Models:
Alpine A110, Supra (not Z4 though), Agreed on BRZ and Nissan Z, I could imagine a hypothetical Audi RS5 Allroad being pretty neat, Polestar 1, MG Cyberster (seriously), fuck it, LC500, and idk a mclaren? I don’t know the differences between the different mclarens)
discontinued models:
Jag F-Type, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, R8, Lotus Evora, Audi TT, Peugeot RC-Z, Camaro
edit: I tried to format this as a list using the client and it seemed to just not apply the formatting?
BRING BACK THE CAYENNE TRANSSYBERIA YOU COWARDS
One Million Percent Correct!!!
Stef I thought of you last week when I saw this Cayenne street parked in Brooklyn.
(If you know your Deadspin/Defector history, look in the background)
Hell yeah, buddy. GOOD PARSH!
Brain-farting on the Defector connection, though. I don’t really know NYC addresses, TBH. Is it K-Mags’ twin brunching in the background?
That’s the bar where they came up with the idea, according to legend!
Cool!
The answer is always Miata.
(It’s an old meme, sir, but it checks out)
Taiam?
But yes!
On second thought, isn’t this
https://www.theautopian.com/worlds-worst-cars-book-redemption-suzuki-x90/
The same basic idea?
Yes but it’s been out of production for 20 years. And the Miata just got a minor facelift.
Small, light, short wheelbase and overhangs, 16″ wheels so you could have some tire sidewall, no roof, ~5:1 1st gear for some crawl ratio- with a bit more clearance, bit bigger tires, and deeper differential gearing with a locker, it would probably do better offroad than a lot of pickup trucks.
Maverick Lobo off road version would be a Maverick Raptor.
Give it the front bumper from the tremor, but with the bottom cooling air intakes replaced with a new full size grill that replaces the stupid plastic insert up front. All AWD options (Either Ecoboost or Hybrid, more suspension travel (paired with softer suspension overall), and such.
Dodge should have entered the Viper into the WRC R-GT category
The Nissan Z has rally pedigree. Would look especially bitchin with the 240Z aesthetic throwbacks. Really, I just want to see more Zs in general.
A last hurrah R35 Rally (GTRally) would be sweeeeet.
Nissan did a concept last year! I’ve sort of wondered how well FX35 stuff bolts up to Z’s, with the shared FM chassis, but a factory variant would probably turn out better.
https://www.theautopian.com/the-wild-nissan-safari-rally-z-shouldnt-just-be-a-concept/
Buddy has entered the chat.
https://www.instagram.com/yeahemme/p/C1Lz0UeO5dr/
Emme Hall is a badass.