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?

Richard Lindhorst from Elferspot arrives at Lake Como to meet Jan Kalmar and KALMAR’s latest creation, the RS-7. The engineering behind the car is on another level, and Richard is eager to understand every detail. What is the foundation? Where does the donor car come from? What lies beneath the surface? What can be added if needed?

Most importantly, Richard gets the keys and takes the RS-7 out himself. Just like that. Lake Como, narrow streets of small Italian towns, and Alpine roads become the testing ground. The car immediately shows its dual character: precision engineering combined with raw, mechanical feel. Every input feels direct, every road surface tells a story. “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” – says Jan Kalmar. Will Richard need the hammer? What will his verdict be?