Land Rover Unveils 626-Horsepower Defender Dakar Road-Legal SUV

Land Rover has unveiled the Defender Dakar, a road-legal production SUV derived directly from the vehicle that dominated the Stock class at the 2026 Dakar Rally. The extreme off-roader is the most powerful Defender model to date, featuring a 626-horsepower twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine and a suite of competition-derived upgrades.

The new model shares its body structure, driveline, and BMW-derived V8 with the race-winning D7XR competition car. While the rally vehicle's power was restricted, the production Dakar delivers the engine's full output of 626 bhp and 750 Nm (553 lb-ft) of torque. This makes it significantly more powerful than the existing top-spec Defender Octa, which had its output recently reduced for emissions compliance.

Performance enhancements are central to the vehicle's design. It rides on forged 20-inch wheels fitted with massive 35-inch all-terrain tires. A bespoke suspension package includes coil springs and Bilstein Advanced dampers, alongside a wider front and rear track for improved stability. The vehicle also introduces specialized drive modes including Dunes, Gravel, and Flight, the latter designed to ensure smooth landings on extreme terrain, a...