Defender Dakar is road-legal off-roader

How powerful is the Defender Dakar?

We’re talking the same 635hp as the existing Defender Octa, powered by the mighty turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 that Land Rover sources from BMW. Oh, it makes up to 750Nm of torque as well.

Is this just a Defender Octa with a body kit?

Not quite. It goes like this: Land Rover created the Defender Octa as a high-performance variant. Using that as a starting point, the Defender racing team then developed the Dakar-ready D7X-R racing version, which went on to take a 1-2-3 finish in the new production-based class in this year’s Dakar Rally.

Then the D7X-R racing version is taken back to the workshop and house-trained ever so slightly so that it can be legally sold as a road car.

So what’s changed from a regular Defender Octa?

While that V8 engine is essentially the same as the racing version, it now doesn’t have to meet the air intake restriction regulations, so it’s back up to full power.

The whole body and chassis are tougher and beefed up compared to the standard Octa, and there have also been some major chassis changes, with a wider track covered over by massive wheel arch extensions.

There are also Bilstein adaptive dampers, more ride height, 20-inch wheels with 35-inch tyres and adjustable driving modes that now include Dune, Gravel and Flight.

Flight?

Yes. Land Rover says that this mode is designed to ensure a soft landing when you get air over a yump.

Any other changes?

There are roof-mounted LED light pods, and the option of the same Dakar Sand and Yanbu Turquoise colour scheme used by the racing team.

The Dakar also gets a fixed metal roof, raised carbon-fibre air intakes, a carbon-fibre bonnet, a tailgate blanking plate and Dakar-inspired mud flaps. Enhanced metal underbody protection completes the race inspired specification.

What about the interior?

You get a pair of racing bucket seats up front with (optional) four-point racing harnesses, and two seats in the back for a 2+2 layout, with storage space behind those for crash helmets, a spare wheel and a tyre air compressor.

When can I have one?

Soon enough. Land Rover is taking initial orders at Monterey Car Week although it hasn’t yet said how many it will make, and the full technical details and specifications won’t be confirmed until the next Dakar Rally, which doesn’t take place until January 2027.

What does CompleteCar reckon?

Gotta love a race car for the road, especially one with ‘Flight’ mode... We were lucky enough to be in Saudi Arabia to witness the Defender team in action in the Dakar Rally, so make sure you read Shane’s account of the event.