Car brands continue to unveil cool models at the Monterey Car Week in California, including Land Rover, which revealed the new Defender 'Dakar' edition, celebrating the Defender D7X-R's debut victory at the 2026 Dakar Rally.To give an idea of how serious Land Rover was about the Defender Dakar, the engineers gave it a flight mode that engages when the vehicle goes airborne over a desert dune, slipping the transfer case clutch and adjusting engine torque delivery in a manner that protects the transmission and driveline from severe shock loads upon touchdown, helping the Defender Dakar land more smoothly.The brand chose to describe this vehicle as an "evolution," a road-legal version of the Defender D7X‑R, suggesting that the road-going version still has all the kit and oomph to tackle those dunes and harsh conditions. Notably, the Defender D7X‑R was quite similar to the Defender Octa in terms of performance since it used the same 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 mated to an eight-speed transmission.AdvertisementAdvertisementBut owners of the Defender Dakar will be happy to know that their Landy produces more power than the race vehicle itself because power was limited to 390 hp for the rally raid run. The Defender Dakar gets the twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 626 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, the same as the current Defender Octa.Image credit: Land RoverThe Defender Dakar gets a more rugged exterior with elevated air intakes, a carbon-fiber hood, and roof-mounted light pods. The oversized wheel flares with visible rivets add to its muscular stance, while the spare tire has been relocated from its usual position at the rear to the cargo area, where it sits alongside an air compressor. The off-roader also received improved underbody protection and comes equipped with signature mud flaps.For racing over dunes and rocks in the elements, the Defender Dakar comes with 35-inch all-terrain tires that go around forged 20-inch wheels, and a coil spring suspension setup with Bilstein dampers. In terms of software additions, the vehicle comes with Dunes and Gravel Drive modes, in addition to the flight mode mentioned earlier.AdvertisementAdvertisementInside, the limited-edition model blends the ruggedness of a rally car with a more premium cabin. It gets a 2+2 seating layout, with the front row featuring race seats developed specifically for the Defender Dakar. Buyers can also opt for four-point racing harnesses, while dedicated storage behind the seats is designed to accommodate racing helmets. The cargo area is equipped with a purpose-built mount for the spare wheel and air compressor. Speaking about the Defender Dakar, Mark Cameron, Managing Director of Defender, said:"We've pushed our engineers to go further than they've ever gone before. First, we evolved Defender OCTA into D7X‑R and then we asked: could we make the Dakar Rally‑winning D7X‑R road legal? The result is the Defender Dakar."It's the ultimate expression of adventure and is a true reflection of how we embrace the impossible. It embodies not only the spirit of the Defender Rally team but our continued and historic legacy of off‑road innovation. This limited‑run model will showcase everything we've learned in some of the toughest environments and most competitive conditions imaginable. An authentic Defender, made from unstoppable DNA."The Defender Dakar's price has not been revealed, but one can safely say it will be priced higher than the Defender Octa Black Edition, which is being offered with a price tag of around $170,000.
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