Key highlights
- Land Rover Defender Dakar D7X-R unveiled
- Based on the Defender Octa
- Features a heavily revised mechanical setup
Land Rover has officially taken the cover off its first-ever Dakar championship vehicle. Badged ‘Defender Dakar D7X-R’, this special SUV is what we all want to drive once in our lifetime. Check its complete details below.
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Land Rover Defender Dakar D7X-R: Everything you need to know
The new Defender Dakar D7X-R is nothing short of a testament for the British carmaker, as it is the first Dakar Rally car for the brand, which is set to compete in the ‘Stock’ category of the W2RC Championship 2026 next year.
This project is led by Stephane Peterhansel, who is a 14-time W2RC champion. Meanwhile, the D7X-R is based on the Defender Octa, which is already a heavily revamped version of the standard model.
Speaking of the changes, the visual updates feature the new Geopalette colourway, which takes its inspiration from the sand dunes, mud, and various types of terrain of the W2RC championship.
Meanwhile, the vehicle features a raised ride height with the help of Bilstein dampers, twin snorkels, wide fender arches, off-road bumpers, a bigger air intake for more performance, 35-inch off-road wheels with wide track tyres, and ventilated disc brakes.
On the inside, the car features a redesigned dashboard as per the FIA regulations, featuring an onboard navigation system, a race-inspired digital console, a race-spec steering wheel with Alcantara fabric, six-buckle race seats, hydraulic jacks, and an FIA-approved roll cage.
Since it is a race car, there are not many ‘comfort’ features to be exact, but it certainly gets three spare wheels on the inside, a massive 300-litre water tank, an onboard tool kit for on-the-go repairs, and more. The D7X-R also features a 550-litre fuel tank, which gives it enough range to complete the various stages easily.
As the Defender Dakar will participate in the ‘Stock’ category, it does not feature any massive changes to the BMW M5-sourced, 4.4-litre, twin-turbo V8 petrol engine. However, the 8-speed transmission has certainly been revised with the race-approved lower final-drive ratio that helps in various tricky situations.
Last but not least, it features a ‘Flight Mode’, which automatically adjusts the torque on the wheels when the vehicle is airborne. This is to make the landings softer and more confident, which is essential for a vehicle that is certainly going to do dune-bashing a lot.
The D7X-R Rally Defender will be participating in the 2026 W2RC, which is a 5,000 km race spread over a time span of two weeks.
