Land Rover debuts its new Defender Dakar D7X‑R and it's a 1-of-500 collector's car that's packing 635HP and is paying a special tribute
Published on Aug 20, 2026 at 3:54 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Sep 14, 2026 at 3:30 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Land Rover has taken the covers off its new Defender Dakar D7X-R, revealing an incredible one-of-500 collector’s car packing over 635hp.
Unveiled during Monterey Car Week, this is a road-going version of the incredible Dakar-winning D7X-R SUV that dominated its category in 2026.
Jaguar Land Rover has stated that just 500 of these incredibly special SUVs will be produced, making them a true collector’s car.
This special edition also marks five years since the SUV returned to the American market, and honors its recent rallying glory.
This is a road-legal version of the Defender D7X-R
Manager Director for the Defender, Mark Cameron, 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.”
Land Rover is making the new limited-edition available in a range of colors.
These are headlined by the signature Dakar Sand Body and Yanbu Turquoise roof combination.
As it is based on the rally model, the Defender Dakar has race-inspired features across the exterior.
This includes a fixed metal roof, roof-mounted light pods, raised air intakes, and extended wheel arches.
The SUV also has a carbon fibre hood, tailgate blanking plate, and enhanced underbody protection.
What is under the hood of the Land Rover Defender Dakar?
The road-going version of the SUV has the same engine as the actual race car.
This is the 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine.
However, Land Rover has worked their magic and ensured that the engine produces a ludicrous amount of power.
The Defender Dakar now makes 635hp in total, which is more than 230hp extra compared to the rally car.
“We’ve pushed our engineers to go further than they’ve ever gone before,” said Mark Cameron.
If you want one of these cars, then you had better act fast.
Land Rover is making just 500 units of the SUV globally.
At the time of writing, the price had not yet been released, but order books should open in early 2027.
Land Rover Defender timeline
1947: Rover engineering director Maurice Wilks sketches the original rugged 4×4 concept in the sand at a Welsh beach
1948: The Series I officially debuts at the Amsterdam Motor Show as a stripped-down agricultural workhorse
1958: The Series II launches on the vehicle’s tenth anniversary with an updated body style and a larger engine
1971: The Series III arrives with a modernized plastic grille and goes on to become the highest-selling classic model
1983–1984: The manufacturer introduces the 110 and 90 editions, upgrading to coil springs for drastically improved ride comfort
1990: The iconic Defender nameplate is officially adopted to distinguish the utilitarian truck from the new Discovery
1993: A highly sought-after North American Specification batch briefly brings the famous off-roader to the US market
2016: After 67 years of continuous manufacturing, the final classic chassis rolls off the Solihull assembly line
2019: A completely redesigned modern generation debuts at the Frankfurt Motor Show to revive the legendary nameplate
Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a heritage steam railway.
