Kalmar Automotive is a Porsche coachbuilder that sets itself apart in the crowded market by offering wealthy buyers a variety of products. At one end, there’s the 7-97 series, which uses the 993-generation 911 to create vehicles that look like classic examples of these iconic models. The upcoming 9X9 is on the other end of the spectrum by building a 959-inspired vehicle for the modern world.
Kalmar’s latest creation is the RS-7. It takes inspiration from Porsche’s 911 rally cars and is ready for off-road adventures. The new model uses the 997-generation 911 available from 2004 to 2013 to create a new, rugged vehicle.
Kalmar’s New Rally-Spec Porsche 911
Kalmar specifically picked the 997 chassis because it’s an all-steel platform. “It must be possible to fix a safari car with a hammer and a welder when you are somewhere in the middle of nowhere, and many race teams running the newer versions have learned the nice stiff chassis cracks easily with even relatively small impacts,” company founder Jan Kalmar said in the new models’ announcement.
Kalmar is no stranger to taking Porsches off-road. Years ago, he bought a Cayenne and customized it for long-distance driving, including a roll cage and a much larger fuel tank. He took the vehicle on cross-continent journeys. Eventually, this led to the creation of Kalmar Beyond Adventure for taking other folks on adventures like this.
Kalmar says the new RS-7 is the brand’s expression of the company’s experience in taking Porsches off-road. The revisions include a new front fascia with larger air intakes and a mesh rear fascia for better heat mitigation. There is also an LED light bar on the nose and a ducktail spoiler on the rear deck. The housings for the new parts are Kevlar to ensure they can withstand the punishment of tackling rugged terrain.
A Classy Kalmar
Kalmar’s modifications include aluminum underbody protection and extra chassis bracing. The suspension gains adaptive dampers and hydraulic ride height adjustment. The company removes the anti-roll bars for greater wheel articulation. The ground clearance can be between 6.7 inches and 8.3 inches, depending on the setup. The engine hooks up to a six-speed manual gearbox with a limited-slip differential.
The buyer of this RS-7 specified a car that could work on the road and on a rally course. Inside, Kalmar covers the Recaro seats with Porsche’s Pepita checkered fabric. The center console display allows the driver to adjust the shocks and shows a map for navigating off-road routes.
Owners of a 997-gen Porsche can contract Kalmar for this upgrade, which starts at the equivalent of $103,783 (99,997 euros). To be clear, this amount doesn’t include the donor car or any additional upgrades.
TopSpeed’s Take
Next to Signer and Emory, Kalmar is among the top Porsche coachbuilders in the world. The company’s latest offering takes it into a different segment because competitors aren’t building off-road-ready 911 variants. Plus, Kalmar understands the type of punishment a car can take when away from the pavement. This is a fascinating creation, and we can’t wait to see one playing in the dirt.
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