Defender Dakar D7X-R – The Defender Dakar D7X-R is a brutal, rally-prepared SUV made on the road-going Defender OCTA platform, and it is intended for the 2026 Dakar Rally and W2RC season. Besides the powerful 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 and rugged look, this vehicle received the upgrade of suspension, better cooling, larger fuel capacity, as it was made for the desert. Three top driver teams will operate the D7X-R in one of the hardest rally events on the planet.
The D7X-R’s main feature is the tough D7X body structure that can handle severe twisting forces and keeps the original driveline and transmission layouts. Although it is a lot more robust than the standard Defender, it has changed a lot in many ways that it can last in desert. The automobile has a broader track (+60mm), higher ground clearance, 35 inches off-road tyres, and front and rear body modifications. The fuel tank has been designed for 550 litres and is unique too. A full competition roll cage, spare wheels, on-board water supply, tool kits, hydraulic jacks, and sand-proof filters are among the other essentials for the rally.
The front and rear BILSTEIN provide the suspension that is able to overcome high desert bumps with the added fuel load. In addition to all this, the “Flight Mode” feature will allow for smoother torque management when the SUV gets launched; thus, protecting the drive train during jumps.
On the inside side, D7X-R comes with FIA-approved bucket seats, six-point racing harnesses, a driver-configurable motorsport dashboard, rally navigation system, head-up display, and a reinforced roll cage. The cockpit is tailored for both safety and comfort during over 80 hours of extreme racing.
The D7X-R has been given a new paint job called “Geopalette” which is influenced by the desert and has a mix of sand, stone, earth colors, and a little bit of aqua. 2016 the Dakar Rally is going to be the battlefield for top drivers such as Stéphane Peterhansel, Sara Price, and Rokas Baciuška as well as their co-drivers, all under team principal Ian James. The Defender Dakar D7X-R is thus going to be a powerful participant in the past, present, and future of rally-raid events.
