Land Rover preps its best Defender so far for Dakar-2026

The formidable Land Rover Defender Octa will hit the dirt at the next year’s Dakar Rally marathon.

Despite the extensive modifications, the SUV is officially categorized as Modified Stock and not as a standalone prototype. In particular, it retains the stock Defender’s chassis and bodywork with minimal changes. The 4.4-liter BMW V8 under the hood also stays the same.

After its Dakar debut in 2026, the Octa will proceed to take part in the World Rally-Raid Championship.

There are still no pics of the build from Land Rover, so below are some images and a video showing the standard Defender.