Defender Rally has officially revealed the Defender Dakar D7X-R, which is their brand-new racing SUV prepared specially for the 2026 Dakar Rally. It is one of the toughest and most dangerous motorsport
events in the world and this SUV is not just another modified car, but it is a purpose-built machine which is designed to survive desert heat, giant dunes, sharp rocks and nearly 5,000 km of harsh rally-raid racing.
What makes it special?
What makes the D7X-R so special is that it is based on the road-going Defender OCTA and it keeps the same strong, lightweight D7x body architecture which is able to handle extreme twisting forces. It also uses the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, but tuned to run on advanced sustainable fuel, following FIA rules for the Stock category. In fact, the transmission and driveline layout remain unchanged which proves how capable the production Defender already is.
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Built
Although its core structure remains stock, the D7X-R gets heavy upgrades to survive Dakar’s brutal conditions like-
- Wider track (+60mm) for better stability
- Raised ride height for improved ground clearance
- 35-inch off-road tyres
- Reworked front and rear bodywork for better approach and departure angles
- Extended underbody protection with stronger skid plates
- Bespoke 550-litre fuel tank built into the rear for long desert stages
- Full competition roll cage for safety
- Three spare wheels mounted inside the cabin
- On-board water supply, tool kit, hydraulic jacks and spare parts
Suspension from BILSTEIN
Defender Rally partnered with BILSTEIN, which is known worldwide for high-performance suspension. The D7X-R gets-
- Front coil-over dampers
- Twin rear dampers
- A suspension system tuned to handle desert jumps, high-speed impacts and the extra fuel load
Desert Cockpit
From the inside it has FIA-approved bucket seats, 6-point racing harness, driver-configurable motorsport dashboard, rally navigation system and head-up display and strengthened roll cage. Everything is designed to keep the crews safe and comfortable during 80+ hours of extreme driving.
The D7X-R debuts a new “Geopalette” livery combining sand, stone and earth shades with a touch of aqua. These colours are inspired by the desert landscapes of Dakar.
Driver Lineup
Three experienced teams will pilot the Defender Dakar D7X-R:
- Stéphane Peterhansel & Mika Metge
- Rokas Baciuška & Oriol Vidal
- Sara Price & Sean Berriman
- Team Principal Ian James will lead the campaign.
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