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Future models - Land Rover - Defender - DakarDakar Defender divulgedDefender Dakar D7X-R rally raid prototype appears at Goodwood Festival of Speed21 Jul 2025 ALWAYS the source of new model excitement, Goodwood Festival of Speed lived up to expectations this year with plenty of tasty metal on show – including a prototype of Land Rover’s new rally raid-inspired Defender Dakar D7X-R, set to compete in the upcoming 2026 Dakar Rally and also the six rounds of the 2026 World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC).
The rally model, making its global public debut, was put through its paces over the four-day event on both Goodwood Hillclimb track and the Off-Road Arena.
Purposefully equipped, the model proved to be something of a show-stopper, no doubt aided by the presence of team drivers, 14-time Dakar winner Stéphane Peterhansel ably supported by four-time Dakar stage winner Sara Price with whom he will share the Defender drive next year along with third team member Rokas Baciuška.
Speaking after driving the Dakar D7X-R at Festival of Speed, Ms Price said: “The car felt really good – it's the total package. We were showing off our prototype car at Goodwood, but it’s about to get even more real as our competition Defender will be finished soon and the real testing will begin.”
Mr Peterhansel said he was "looking forward to the next few months of preparations ahead of our entry to Dakar in the Stock category”.
“To go back to the roots with a production car, and with Defender which is the best off-road brand, I’m really proud to be part of it. We will try to write the new chapter of history with Defender at Dakar. It’s going to be an adventure and an opportunity to show what a production car can do.
The prototype vehicle, already tested in the sands of Morocco earlier this year, will compete in the newly updated Stock category that allows a degree of modification and will be supported by partners Castrol and apparel company Shackleton in the Defender Rally Team.
Land Rover says the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8-powered D7X-R prototype is the “the perfect platform to authentically demonstrate the extreme capability and durability of Defender”.
The model’s Morocco shake-down gave the team a wealth of learning that was then applied to the next stage of the development program. The second prototype, which made the Goodwood appearance, featured a number of upgrades suitable for its performance requirements and is closer in specification to the official competition car due to be unveiled later this year.
Updates included: 17-inch bespoke wheels fitted with 35-inch tyres for increased durability, increased track width and ride height to match the eventual race car set up for additional capability, significantly upgraded steering rack meeting motorsport specifications for enhanced performance, the standard exhaust has been removed, resulting in improved flow.  Read more26th of June 2025  MY26 Land Rover Defender introducedNew technology, amenity, and driveline options for updated Land Rover DefenderAll future models Alfa Romeo Abarth Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chrysler Chevrolet Dodge Citroen Ferrari DS Ford Fiat FPV Foton Haval Great Wall Honda Holden Hyundai HSV Isuzu Infiniti Jeep Jaguar Lamborghini Kia Lexus Land Rover Mazda Maserati Mercedes-Benz McLaren Mini MG Nissan Mitsubishi Peugeot Opel Proton Porsche Renault Ram Saab Rolls-Royce Smart Skoda Subaru SsangYong Tesla Suzuki Volkswagen Toyota VolvoDefender pricing
Motor industry news GoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events. |
Click to shareLand Rover modelsResearch Land Rover All future modelsAlfa RomeoAbarthAudiAston MartinBMWBentleyChryslerChevroletDodgeCitroenFerrariDSFordFiatFPVFotonHavalGreat WallHondaHoldenHyundaiHSVIsuzuInfinitiJeepJaguarLamborghiniKiaLexusLand RoverMazdaMaseratiMercedes-BenzMcLarenMiniMGNissanMitsubishiPeugeotOpelProtonPorscheRenaultRamSaabRolls-RoyceSmartSkodaSubaruSsangYongTeslaSuzukiVolkswagenToyotaVolvoDefender pricing
Motor industry newsGoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events. |
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