Land Rover Just Unveiled Its Dakar Rally Defender

Land Rover Just Unveiled Its Dakar Rally Defender

The Land Rover Defender Dakar D7X‑R will go racing in January at the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia with a a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 that makes 626 hp.

Land Rover’s Defender Is Making a Full-Fledged Dakar Comeback With the Wild New D7X-R

Featuring a bespoke "Flight Mode" calibration that automatically adjusts torque delivery when airborne.

Land Rover Defender Racer Ready for Dakar

Dakar-Prepped Defender Debuts Ahead of Difficult Desert Race. The Octa-based race truck will compete in the full 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship series.

New Defender Dakar D7X-R Prepares for Brutal 2026 Rally Debut

Power comes from the familiar 4.4 litre twin-turbo V8, now running on sustainable fuel.

Land Rover’s Wildest Defender Yet Packs “Flight Mode” For Desert Jumps

Defender Dakar D7X-R arrives with purposeful upgrades over the Octa. Adds new bodykit, 35-inch tires, Bilstein dampers, and “Flight Mode.” Ready for the 2026 Dakar Rally with Stéphane Peterhansel leading. Land Rover has unveiled the toughest Defender yet, engineered to tackle the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), including the fabled Dakar Rally. The beefed-up Defender Octa will compete in the “Stock” category, with 14-time Dakar winner…

This is the Land Rover Defender that will compete in the Dakar

Large SUV to take on large desert. Features a 4.4-litre V8 and a 550-litre fuel tank