Ad Feature: The World’s Toughest Defender

Meet the Defender D7X-R - a Dakar Rally racer born from the standard Defender Octa and set for the toughest test in Defender’s history: the Dakar Rally. Want to know why the new Dakar Rally ready Defender D7X-R looks so much like a standard Defender? Because it basically is. The rules for the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) ‘Stock’ category in which the D7X-R is due to compete are pretty stringent; vehicles need to be production class and have the same unmodified bodyshell, engine and drivetrain - no unrecognisable tube-frame ‘prototypes’ with a Defender grille taped to the front. Luckily, there's already a Defender that’s semi-rally hardened as standard; step forward the Defender OCTA (the D7X). And while the R is essentially ‘just’ a Defender 110 - it does have a few rally-specific upgrades. Which it'll need for the daddy of desert races this January. 🎥 Subscribe to Top Gear YouTube: http://bit.ly/SubscribeToTopGear ⏪ Subscribe to Top Gear Classic YouTube: http://bit.ly/SubscribeToTopGear 📖 Subscribe to Top Gear Magazine: https://top-gear.visitlink.me/YeyndO 🎧 Top Gear Magazine Podcast: https://topgear.podlink.to/Podcast ✉️ Top Gear Newsletter: https://www.topgear.com/newsletter-signup 🛍️ Top Gear Shop: https://www.topgear.com/shop Follow Top Gear ⬇️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topgear/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/topgear TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@topgear X/Twitter: https://x.com/BBC_TopGear This is a commercial channel from BBC Studios. Service & Feedback https://www.bbcstudios.com/contact/contact-us/