When Land Rover entered a team of Defenders in the dune-rich Dakar Rally, they were keen on a decent result. First, second and fourth in "Stock" - or near standard - class? That'll do nicely, and now we all get to celebrate with this brutal production version. The new Defender Dakar is, frankly, a beast and one that's keen on the highest of sand dunes, not just those on your annual holiday to Cornwall. And changes to the basic production Defender go far deeper than a fetching colourway.
'Dakar Sand' matches the look of the Dakar conquering Defender D7X-R, so basically that's a rally winner that you've just guided on the perilous journey to the school gates. Under your right foot you've got even more power than the professionals had on the Dakar Rally. While both road and competition versions boast a mighty 4.4 litre turbocharged V8, as fitted to the existing Defender Octa, rally drivers had to make do with a mere 390 bhp to comply with class rules. You'll get the full 626 bhp that the Octa offers. Probably enough.
Chunky 20 inch forged wheels carry even chunkier 35 inch all terrain tyres. Massively extended wheel arches have exposed rivets to express utility. Rally proven Bilstein dampers now feature to the Defender's coil suspension. Carbon fibre is used for bonnet and air intakes. A reinforced undertray protects against those pesky boulders that you so often find on the supermarket run. Additional lights to the roof will pick out local wildlife, such as foxes raiding bins or next door's cat on the prowl.
What isn't there is a spare wheel to the rear, due again to regulations on the Dakar. Competition D7X-R had no less than three spares mounted inside. Road version makes do with just the one, so take extra care. There's no roll cage either. Instead there's what Land Rover describe as a "tough luxury” interior featuring race-style bucket seats to the front - four point harness on request - and what the company are describing as a "2+2" layout which we're guessing means compact accommodation to the rear. There is specific storage for your crash helmets, though, as you'd expect.
Defender drivers will be familiar with a variety of drive modes, but perhaps not with the Dakar's Dune and Gravel modes. Plus there's the marvellously named Flight mode, designed for a smooth landing when you and that snarling V8 get all four wheels off the ground. Brave isn't really the word for this.
Your neighbours will hear the growl of your Defender Dakar every time you fire it up. Price on such a delight? A Defender Octa will set you back £170,000 before options, so you might want to be ready to give the nice people at Land Rover at least £250,000 for a vehicle surely suitable for its very own cameo in the next 'Dune' movie.
