A twin-turbocharged off-roader with the heart of a lion is gearing up to tackle the legendary Dakar Rally and the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship starting in 2026. Enter the Land Rover Defender Octa, an adrenaline-fueled evolution of an iconic off-road machine, boasting 626 horsepower (467 kW) under the hood.

Sure, it's got the grunt, but is it enough to claim podium glory? Land Rover seems determined to find out. The Defender Octa will race in the Stock Production-Based category, meaning its engine, transmission, and driveline will mirror those of the showroom version. Even the bodywork stays true to the road-going model, no flimsy facades here, just the rugged, unmistakable lines of a proper Defender.

"Defender competing in Dakar will be an incredibly exciting challenge," says JLR Motorsport Managing Director James Barclay. "We had a vision for the future of production-based vehicles in rally-raid, and it's been fantastic to collaborate with the ASO, FIA, and other manufacturers to create new regulations for the Stock category. Now, we have the perfect platform to showcase Defender's capability in the toughest off-road motorsport arena."

At its heart, the Defender Octa packs a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine paired with a mild-hybrid system. Torque is a jaw-dropping 800 Nm, and when the conditions are right, it’ll hit 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds. Power is channeled to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, ensuring relentless grip in even the most punishing terrains.

Of course, raw power alone doesn’t win races. Compared to a standard Defender, the Octa sits 28 mm higher and boasts a 69 mm wider stance for better stability. The chassis has been reinforced for extra durability, and while Land Rover hasn’t disclosed specifics on the suspension, expect upgrades to handle Dakar’s brutal desert stages. The Stock category does allow for some tweaks, so you can bet the engineers are sweating the details.

For 2026, Land Rover will field two Defenders in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship and increase the fleet to three for Dakar. Development is already in full swing, with a full reveal slated for late 2025. This marks a bold new chapter for the Defender, proving it’s as ready to dominate the dunes as it is to conquer city streets.