Automotive
Land Rover reveals Defender Dakar concept previewing street-legal rally vehicle
The limited-edition production model is expected to launch next year with a 626-horsepower V-8 engine and upgraded suspension.
The short version
- Land Rover unveiled the Defender Dakar Design Preview, a concept vehicle indicating a limited-edition, street-legal production model arriving next year.
- The vehicle is derived from the Dakar Rally-winning D7X-R race car, adapting its race chassis and body for public roads.
- It features a 626-horsepower 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine, coil springs, Bilstein dampers, and 35-inch tires.
Key facts
- Land Rover revealed the Defender Dakar Design Preview concept as a precursor to a limited-production street vehicle slated for release next year.[MotorTrend]
- The production model is based on the D7X-R rally vehicle and uses a BMW 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine generating 626 horsepower and up to 553 lb-ft of torque.[MotorTrend]
- The vehicle switches from the Octa model's air springs to coil springs and Bilstein dampers, paired with 21-inch wheels and 35-inch tires.[MotorTrend]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unconfirmed whether the production vehicle will retain the race car's reinforced transmission gears, differential gears, axle half-shafts, mechanical limited-slip differentials, or its 14.6 inches of ground clearance.[MotorTrend]