Land Rover Defender D7X-R Is Built to Battle Dakar's Desert

19/05/2025 - 12:28 | ,  ,  ,   | IAB Team

Land Rover is taking the fight to the dunes with the reveal of its new Defender Dakar D7X-R, a prototype built to conquer the legendary Dakar Rally in 2026. Currently undergoing rigorous testing in the Sahara, the D7X-R sticks to its roots with Land Rover’s robust D7x aluminum monocoque—the same one used in production Defenders.

Land Rover Defender Dakar D7x R Sand Dune Bashing

Rather than chasing an overall win, Land Rover will enter three units in the Stock category, showcasing just how capable the showroom-based Defender can be. Powering the beast is a 4.4L twin-turbo V8, similar to the one in the Defender OCTA, which delivers 626 hp in its road-going form.

The driver lineup is no less exciting: Dakar legend Stéphane Peterhansel, with 14 wins to his name, joins forces with 25-year-old Lithuanian Rokas Baciuška, a rising star with multiple Dakar podiums.

Land Rover Defender Dakar D7x Sand

This entry aligns perfectly with Dakar’s 2026 rules update, giving production-based machines more leeway while staying true to their origins. It’s a smart move and a bold statement from Land Rover: the Defender isn’t just made to survive, it’s built to win.

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