Land Rover Defender Dakar Road-Legal Version Unveiled With 635 HP V8

Land Rover has unveiled the Defender Dakar, a limited-production road-going SUV derived from its Dakar Rally-winning D7X-R competition vehicle. Revealed as a Design Preview Model at Monterey Car Week, the new model brings several components from the rally car to the road, including its powertrain, driveline and body architecture.

Reservations for the Defender Dakar are expected to open in early 2027, while the company plans to reveal complete technical specifications during the 2027 Dakar Rally.

The Defender Dakar receives several upgrades aimed at improving off-road capability. Compared to the standard Defender Octa, it features a wider track, increased ground clearance and 35-inch all-terrain tyres mounted on forged 20-inch alloy wheels. Suspension duties are handled by coil springs paired with Bilstein Advanced dampers.

The SUV also introduces dedicated Dunes and Gravel drive modes, along with a new Flight Mode that has been developed to improve vehicle stability during high-speed jumps and uneven landings.

Visually, the Defender Dakar stands apart with roof-mounted auxiliary lights, a fixed metal roof, a carbon-fibre bonnet, carbon-fibre raised air intakes, wider wheel arches with exposed rivets, rally-style mud flaps, additional underbody protection, a front skid plate and a tailgate blanking panel. Buyers will also have access to exclusive exterior colour options inspired by the Dakar Rally-winning race car.

The cabin adopts a more functional layout focused on off-road use. It features a 2+2 seating arrangement with specially designed front seats, while four-point racing harnesses will be offered as an optional extra.

The rear section has been configured to accommodate racing helmets, and the luggage area includes dedicated mounting provisions for a spare wheel and an onboard air compressor.

Power comes from a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine producing 635 HP and 750 Nm of torque. Defender says the engine operates without the restrictions applied to the competition-spec rally vehicle.

The Defender Dakar also carries over the D7X-R’s body architecture, transmission and driveline, making it one of the closest road-going interpretations of the brand’s Dakar-winning race car.

Defender has not yet announced pricing or production numbers for the limited-run model. Customer reservations are scheduled to begin in early 2027, with additional technical details expected to be released during the next Dakar Rally.

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