Land Rover has taken the wraps off the Defender Dakar D7X-R. The Dakar D7X-R is set to make its debut at the Dakar Rally in January as part of a full 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) campaign. The rally-ready Defender is based on the Defender Octa and is built to compete in the 'Stock' category of the W2RC. However, a few changes and modifications have been made to make it suitable for the category standards.
Defender Dakar D7X-R retains Defender Octa's tD7x body architecture, transmission, driveline, and 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. However, in the competition, it will run on an advanced sustainable fuel, as defined and compliant with FIA regulations.
The Defender Dakar D7X-R, built for Dakar and W2RC, retains the Defender 110 bodyshell but adds rally-specific upgrades. These include a 550-litre rear fuel tank for long stages, a competition roll cage, 35-inch tyres, along with a 60 mm track width increase and raised ride height to improve ground clearance.
The Defender Octa's production V8 engine remains mechanically unchanged, though an air-intake restrictor limits power as per FIA Stock category regulations. To withstand desert heat, the cooling system has been reworked with a larger frontal area, optimized grille airflow, and a single big radiator replacing the usual trio. Four 12V fans aid low-speed cooling, while bonnet revisions and a particle filter keep sand out. Roof-mounted light pods and cabin air intakes further enhance durability.
Defender Rally has already logged over 6,000km of off-road testing with the Dakar D7X-R prototype and is now set for its debut at the 2026 Dakar Rally, kicking off on 3 January in Saudi Arabia.