Kalmar Beyond Adventure RS-7 – Even better than a 911 Dakar?

The Porsche 911 is probably the most versatile sports car in the world. It looks just as good on the streets of Monte Carlo as it does on the Paris-Dakar Rally. That’s why Porsche itself offers everything from Carreras to Turbo and GT models, right up to the off-road-ready 911 Dakar. But for Jan Kalmar, founder of Kalmar Automotive and Beyond Adventure, the Dakar didn’t go far enough. That’s why the Dane is now presenting the KALMAR RS-7, a significantly more extreme variant based on the Porsche 997, and invited us to test it. At Lake Como, we were to experience the RS-7 ourselves. Already on the way there, I asked myself: Could Kalmar’s latest creation be the best Safari 911 out there? Could it be even better than a 911 Dakar?

Scene: Lake Como – Close Encounter with the Beyond Adventure RS-7 #0

Milan, late afternoon. At Malpensa Airport, I take a seat in the car of Jan Kalmar, founder and head of Kalmar Beyond Adventure. Our destination: Lake Como. Normally, Jan is not a man of many words. But when it comes to technical details and solutions from racing and rallying, the 51-year-old opens up. He talks about his experiences at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. About the Dakar Rally stage victory he clinched in a Cayenne. Stories that don’t glorify, but explain. Namely, why his projects today actually work.

The right foundation

At the lakeshore, the RS-7 is waiting. Project number #0. The choice of platform comes as no surprise to connoisseurs. For this specific conversion Kalmar relies on the Porsche 997.1 Carrera 4S with factory power kit (X51) – delivering 381 hp. Not without reason. Its successor with direct fuel injection struggles with low-quality fuel. That makes adventures in Africa, for example, doubly difficult. The electronically controlled all-wheel drive system in the 997.2 also reacts more sensitively to varying tire dimensions than the viscous coupling in the first 997 generation. But don’t worry, the 997.2 can also be used.

It must be possible to fix a safari car with a hammer and a welder when you are somewhere in the middle of nowhere – otherwise it’s no good for adventure.

Jan Kalmar, Kalmar Beyond Adventure

The 991 and 992 were never considered: Their chassis are made of an aluminum-steel mix, too stiff for serious off-road use, and in some places bonded instead of welded. This makes repairing chassis damage after an accident very difficult. The logic is disarmingly simple: what isn’t robust and easily repairable on the road stays behind.

Wide, robust, distinctive

Ten centimeters wider than the production model, the Kalmar Beyond Adventure RS-7 stands without looking exaggerated. Many body parts had to be redesigned and all the changed panels are made from durable lightweight Kevlar. Large sections of the stock fenders were cut out to fit the massive wheels. The original underboy plates were replaced with aluminum parts three to six millimeters thick. Even larger stones can’t harm the underbody, suspension components, or engine.

A special rallying trick: they’re mounted only with vertical bolts. In the event of a hard impact, the bolts give way so the energy isn’t transmitted directly into the chassis. This minimizes the risk of cracks in the body shell. Details like these may seem small, but they reveal the experience of a man who truly knows what happens in the field.

Form follows function – To increase cooling performance, the RS-7’s front end had to be significantly altered

“Most engine failures don’t happen at high speeds, but in city traffic,” explains rally veteran Kalmar. “When little air flows through the radiators, temperatures rise. That’s why we reworked the front bumper to allow a 997 GT3 auxiliary radiator to be placed in the center.” This boosts cooling performance – and therefore the RS-7’s off-road ability – significantly. And still, spare parts can be ordered and fitted at any Porsche Center. This pragmatic approach is symbolic of Jan Kalmar.

Thanks to the large cooling openings in the Kevlar bumpers, the RS-7 front slightly resembles a 991 from some angles. The ducktail spoiler at the rear harmonizes with the similarly angled additional headlights at the front, forming a coherent off-road 911 look. Its rear bumper’s design reminds me of the 918 Spyder’s engine cover, having a large opening, only covered by meshed wire. That also helps with cooling, since the underside is fully protected by aluminum skid plates.

Inside the Beyond Adventure RS-7 beats a suspension with rally DNA

As expected from Jan Kalmar, the RS-7 conversion offers one of the most advanced suspension setups money can buy. At its lowest setting, the TracTive system offers 21 centimeters of ground clearance, at the highest even 24 – more than a regular Porsche Cayenne. Achieved through extended struts and lowered subframes, beefed up with reinforced top-mounts and much larger tires.

The springs are 40 percent softer than stock, and there are no sway bars at all. A six-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) records the car’s movements in every direction. Based on this data, the adaptive dampers adjust automatically to the situation. Both front and rear damper stiffness can be set in five levels. Roll and pitch are also adjustable in five modes.

Despite all the reinforcements, the RS-7 weighs only about 40–50 kg more than a standard 997 Carrera 4S, depending on configuration. That still makes it around 100 kg lighter than today’s 911 Dakar.

Am I in a Porsche 911 or floating on a magic carpet?

After a short briefing on the systems, Jan hands me the key. On the 90-minute drive toward Sondalo, the route offers highways, narrow village streets, and winding country roads. Perfect conditions to get familiar with the car. Inside, it’s minimalistic yet stylish: Recaro CS seats with Pepita fabric, Alcantara steering wheel, and the same Alcantara gear knob as in the legendary 997 GT2 RS. Instead of big infotainment system, there’s a lightweight Bluetooth speaker and the suspension touchscreen. The 997’s character remains intact – just more purist. Everything is right where you’d expect it.

After only a few meters, at the first speed bump, I realize I have to recalibrate my brain for this car. The effect this space-age suspension setup has is mind-bending: bumps and potholes you’d normally avoid or crawl over grimacing become invitations. The RS-7 floats over them as if it already knew they were coming. Experiencing this in a 997 cockpit feels completely surreal. I wonder if I’m sitting in a Porsche 911 or riding Aladdin’s magic carpet.

The RS-7 hasn’t lost any of the 997 Carrera 4S’s sporty character

That Jan Kalmar doesn’t do compromises becomes clear on twisty roads. Despite its much higher ride height, the RS-7 hasn’t lost the base car’s sporty qualities. Yes, it leans more than stock, but spirited mountain driving is still a real joy! Already in the first fast corner, I sense how much work went into honing its setup.

A big part comes from Kalmar’s own Fuchs-style wheels. Instead of using spacers, only wheels with a larger offset were considered, widening the track. And thanks to the 997’s largely untouched, brilliant ergonomics and its extremely communicative hydraulic steering, the RS-7 inspires so much confidence that you sometimes have to hold yourself back. Amazing grip and endless traction almost beg you to drive it even harder into the next corner.

Strong performance off the beaten path – the RS-7 tames even the roughest terrain

The next morning – we head into serious off-road terrain. Jan knows the region from his Beyond Adventure Alps Crossings inside out. Usually, he guides customers here in rally-prepped air-cooled 911s and Cayennes. Until now, the RS-7 had been tested mainly on icy tracks at Beyond Adventure’s Lapland facility. Now came its first outing in the wild.

With a push of two console buttons, the RS-7 rises another four centimeters, and we climb the first gravel pass. Again, that same feeling as with the speed bumps. You see piles of large stones ahead, squint, and hope not to bottom out. But… nothing happens! Roads I’d normally only dare in a real off-roader I now tackle in a 997 with no worries. An automotive oxymoron.

Once you accept this paradox as a capability, the RS-7 opens a new world. True to Jan’s motto of going exactly where others don’t, in this Safari 911 there seem to be no limits. Even rocks, sandbanks, or scraping the underbody don’t scare you. The RS-7 completely removes the fear from rough terrain.

Better daily driver thanks to rally suspension?

What’s impressive about the RS-7 is not just how confidently it marches through the rough but how calmly it behaves in daily life. Its suspension can do everything from firm to comfortable, the higher ground clearance probably even makes it San Francisco-proof. Nothing rattles, visibility is great, and the exhaust is never intrusive. On the contrary, it could even do with a little bit more sound, if you ask me. But the way it is, you’ll never annoy anyone, that’s for sure!

Jan’s main intention was to turn an elegant sports car into an extreme off-roader – capable of completing Beyond Adventures toughest trips. He and his team succeeded so well that, despite its new off-road prowess, the original qualities remain fully intact. As a side effect, the RS-7 has become the ultimate daily driver. 

Beyond Adventure RS-7 vs. Porsche 911 Dakar – can the two Safari 911s even be compared?

Of course, comparisons with the Porsche 911 Dakar are inevitable. But are they even fair? The Dakar is a fascinating car – modern, fast, and immensely versatile. But unlike the RS-7, it’s a series production model with totally different requirements. Jan was able and willing to push things further into the extreme. The Beyond Adventure RS-7 was never meant to be a mass-market product selling in the thousands. While the Dakar is a 911 that can also go off-road, the RS-7 was designed from the ground up for maximum off-road ability.

Porsche 911 Modified

2005

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That’s why comparing them is actually unfair to both. Especially since the 911 Dakar is based on the much newer 992 Carrera 4S and is only available with PDK, while the Beyond Adventure is manual only – which lets you feel even more in control and obviously enhances the driving experience.

For true adventurers the RS-7 might be the perfect fit

Anyone wanting to buy one of the 2,500 limited 911 Dakars today must spend at least €290,000. In especially sought-after specs, up to €400,000 is being asked. That’s far above the original €222,000 list price – before options, of course. This upward trend will likely mean that less Dakars will actually see dirt in the future. The financial risk is simply too high. Of course, a Beyond Adventure RS-7 isn’t cheap either. Conversions start at €100,000 – plus the base car. Yet, the gap to the Dakar will likely remain in the six-figure range.

That alone makes the RS-7 the more interesting choice for those who truly want to experience off-road adventures with their 911. “The Dakar isn’t really suited for our Beyond Adventure tours in Africa, for example,” Jan admits. Quite the opposite of the RS-7. It is cheaper to buy, more capable off-road, sturdier and on top of that easier to repair. And the fact that the KALMAR also makes for an excellent daily driver only sweetens the deal.

The KALMAR Beyond Adventure RS-7 offers automotive freedom – tailor-made

A nearly 20-year-old Porsche 997 Carrera 4S, converted into something close to a rally car with more ground clearance than a Cayenne, is certainly not a car for everyone. Instead, it’s the result of a philosophy whose top priorities are freedom and adventure. Porsche must consider production numbers and broader audiences with the Dakar – Kalmar can afford to realize the uncompromising dreams of a few enthusiasts.

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“We don’t build cars for everyone. We build cars for people willing to push their own limits.”

Jan Kalmar, Kalmar Beyond Adventure

Enough comparisons. Seen on its own, the RS-7 is one of the most versatile cars in the world. That is certain. Anyone lucky enough to invest six figures in a Kalmar will have a car that is stylish in front of the casino, fully air-conditioned and comfortable on the way to work, and virtually unstoppable in the wild. Always knowing that even a minor crash won’t do it much harm.

Perhaps that’s exactly its special charm: instead of chasing a limited edition, you take a step back. You let a man – obsessive in the best sense of the word – transform a timeless 911 into something completely new. The result: an automotive Swiss army knife – tailor-made, with limitless purpose. A true Kalmar. And Jan’s ideas don’t stop there. A rear-wheel-drive lightweight version is already in the works. How good will that Safari 911 be?

© photos: David Fierlinger, Elferspot