McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

Land Rover News

Land Rover news from duPont REGISTRY News, updated as each story breaks, covering the Range Rover, the Range Rover Sport, the Defender and the special editions built in limited numbers. Our reporting takes in reveals, first drives, off-road engineering and the values these vehicles hold over time. Land Rover sits at the centre of luxury SUV news, and the segment keeps expanding each year. Our marketplace supplies the element most publications leave out entirely. Many of these vehicles are listed for sale on duPont REGISTRY, which places the reporting and a genuine asking price side by side. For Land Rover news today, begin with the stories below.

Defender Announces North American Semifinalists For Defender Trophy 2026

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 27, 2026

Defender Trophy North American Semifinalists Announced

One of the most legendary names in off-roading, and an iconic British automotive brand, Defender is known for adventuring spirit, impressive capability, and iconic design. Alongside it, the Defender Trophy competition invites competitors to participate in missions that not only test all-terrain driving skill, but also their physical and problem-solving abilities in one big adventure. The North American Qualifier for the 2026 Defender Trophy took place in British Columbia, Canada, and over 120 participants competed with the hopes of advancing to the next round of competition. The evergreen forests of the region, Stave Lake, and the mountainous terrain served as the backdrop for this first round of competition, and technical trails, obstacle courses, and open terrain challenged competitors. Teams of participants competed in three waves, and the challenge tested teamwork, physicality, off-road driving, and navigation. Twelve semi-finalists emerged, six from the US and six from Canada. From the US, those are Tirin Cameron from Vail, Colorado, Charlie Miller from Boston, Massachusetts, Nathaniel Biggs from Austin, Texas, William Roseburg from Spokane, Washington, Carlo Capua from Fort Worth, Texas, and Lewis Gillis from Monroe, Washington. From Canada, the standout competitors were Joel Cates from Cochrane, Alberta, AJ Leveille from Langley, British Columbia, Adrian Kowryha from Montreal, Quebec, Nils Weidenbruch from Toronto, Ontario, Richard George from Abbotsford, British Columbia, and Jesse Giddings from Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. <- Gallery -> Of that group of twelve, four will advance to the global Defender Trophy Competition, which is set to take place in Africa and hosted in partnership with Tusk, a wildlife conservation organization. Two will represent the US, and two will represent Canada. The announcement of those two winners will be made at the upcoming Destination Defender festival, which will be held in the Hudson Valley of New York at Cedar Lakes Estate. Alongside the competition itself, the Defender 110 Trophy Edition, with expedition-ready design and accessories, celebrates the legacy of the global adventuring challenge. It’s available in Deep Sandglow Yellow or Keswick Green, and has a contrasting Gloss Black finish throughout. 20-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, available Matte Protective Film, and Trophy graphics across the vehicle highlight its competitive inspiration, while Ebony Windsor Leather adds a luxurious touch. As the 2026 Defender Trophy competition continues, anticipation builds to see who comes out on top in the challenging and remote adventure. View All Defender For Sale Image Source: JLR

Range Rover Unveils New “Traces” Installation For Milan Design Week

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 20, 2026

Range Rover Debuts Installation For Milan Design Week

Epitomizing the luxury SUV category, Range Rover is known for a legacy stretching almost 60 years, and as the flagship model and lineup have evolved, Range Rover has also become known for a refined aesthetic, combining modern, luxurious minimalism with a classic silhouette inspired by the original’s approach of combining adventure-ready capability with sumptuous comfort and elegance. At this year’s Milan Design Week, Range Rover’s design will be showcased as a part of a site-specific installation that Range Rover is bringing to Milan, called “Traces.” It’s created in partnership with a London-based spatial design studio, Storey Studio. Located at Galleria Meravigli, in the heart of Milan, “Traces” opens to the public from April 21-26. The installation marks Range Rover’s second consecutive year with presence at Milan Design Week, and it specifically celebrates Range Rover Bespoke, highlighting the elevated luxury, craftsmanship, and design that go behind the brand’s pinnacle personalization service. The space brings together film, design, artwork, and sound in a curated experience for guests, with mirrors evoking a sense of infinite possibility, and three chapters of the experience telling a story. The first is “Memory and Color,” and it features a film by Felipe Sanguinetti. The film explores Sanguinetti’s own memories, from his roots in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and his life as a creative in Paris, each attached to various colors. Color is also an integral part of Range Rover’s story, with shades like Davos White, Masai Red, and Bahama Gold having been a part of the Range Rover legacy since 1970. “Memory and Motif” is the second chapter, and it features the work of four commissioned artists, Hvass and Hannibal, Lisa Rampilli, Petra Borner, and Jules Julien, who were tasked with creating illustrations of their memories of Milan. Original embroidery was also created by the Range Rover Bespoke Materiality team in response to each illustration, and an intimate environment decorated with fabric walls and wood carpet, with a soundscape that connects the first and second chapters, serves as the backdrop for the dialogue between the embroideries and the illustrations. Memory and Material is the final chapter, and within it is a new bespoke Range Rover commission, the Pearl of Tay, which is inspired by the freshwater pearl of Scotland’s River Tay. The space is made to evoke a river landscape, with a black gravel floor, a ceiling that resembles the water’s surface, and displays of objects curated by Edinburgh‑based shop and gallery Bard, which specializes in Scottish craftsmanship. The objects are each created from a single material, and they serve to reference Scotland, as well as the vehicle, with the masterful use of the material itself, much in the same way materials are curated for the bespoke vehicle. <- Gallery -> Furniture partner GUBI also contributed its design expertise to the space, and with stunning art, design, sound, filmmaking, and a new bespoke vehicle commission, the new “Traces” installation by Range Rover is a beautiful showcase of Range Rover’s cosmopolitan approach to automotive luxury. View All Range Rover For Sale Image Source: JLR

New Range Rover Sport Twenty Edition Celebrates Two Decades Of An Icon

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 15, 2026

New Range Rover Sport Twenty Edition Revealed

The early 2000s saw the introduction of the Land Rover Range Stormer Concept, which reimagined the iconic Range Rover as a smaller, more performance-oriented luxury SUV. The concept enjoyed an overwhelmingly positive reception, and the production model that followed it, the Range Rover Sport, was first introduced twenty years ago. It, too, was an instant hit, immediately becoming an iconic luxury SUV in the 2000s, with two more generations that succeeded it being iconic in their own right, as well. The Range Rover Sport saw an ultra-high-performance variant come in the form of the Range Rover Sport SVR in the late 2010s, and succeeding that is the new Range Rover Sport SV, which boasts 626 horsepower from a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine, along with incredible luxury features and bespoke design touches. As the Range Rover Sport celebrates its 20th anniversary as a nameplate, it has a celebrated legacy to look back on, with a plethora of remarkable moments in two short decades. <- Gallery -> To commemorate the milestone anniversary, Range Rover has introduced a new special edition of the Range Rover Sport, the Range Rover Sport Twenty Edition. A limited-run edition, the Twenty Edition features bespoke detailing, along with flagship powertrain options and sport seats derived from the Range Rover Sport SV. Inspired by the Range Stormer Concept that previewed the Range Rover Sport, the Twenty Edition features a bespoke Sanguinello Orange exterior color, alongside Santorini Black and Ostuni White. 23-inch silver wheels complement the design, and an interior finished in Ebony Windsor leather with forged carbon veneers adds performance-inspired elegance to the design of the vehicle. Available to order now, the new Range Rover Sport Twenty Edition is a celebration of two decades of an undeniable luxury SUV icon. View All Range Rover Sport For Sale Image Source: JLR

Sixth Annual Defender Service Awards Presented By Chase Launches

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 01, 2026

Defender Launches The 2026 Defender Service Awards

The Defender Service Awards, presented by Chase, have given over $1.5 million across five years, along with 30 customized Defender vehicles. Supporting charitable organizations across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, the Defender Service Awards brings Defender’s spirit of adventuring, exploration, and reverence for the great outdoors together with bold philanthropy and a grassroots commitment to communities across North America. We not only had the chance to attend 2025’s Defender Service Awards Gala in Temecula, California, but also the Defender Service Awards Winners’ Weekend in Manchester, Vermont, and get to know many of the people behind the organizations that Defender, Chase, and the awards’ myriad partners are supporting, seeing just how meaningful the work of the organizations and the awards is. Now, Defender has announced the 2026 Defender Service Awards, continuing to showcase the philanthropy the awards have epitomized for five years. Six categories are a part of the 2026 Defender Service Awards: Animal, Wildlife & Marine Mammal Welfare, presented by Disney, Community Services, presented by ei3, Search, Rescue & Emergency Support Services, presented by Pelican, Veteran & Civil Servant Outreach, presented by WPP, Outdoor Accessibility & Education, presented by Outside Inc., and the Defender Service Honorees Award for previous finalists, presented by S&P Global Mobility. Each category winner will receive $30,000 and a customized Defender 130 for their organization. Along with the category sponsors, Chase, the Presenting Partner of the awards, will donate $5,000 to the five finalists in each category, totaling $150,000 for the 30 finalists. Meanwhile, Artemis, a Premier Partner, will contribute an additoinal $100,000, and BBC has joined the Awards as a Gold Partner, providing $75,000 of further support. The public can nominate local organizations for the awards, and organizations will then submit an entry form and a three-minute video about their mission, their impact, and how a Defender 130 would bolster their efforts. Submissions are now open from April 1 to June 1, 2026, with an internal judging period following to determine the finalists. Beginning July 29, 2026, category finalists’ videos will be posted for public voting, and the winners will be announced in September 2026. Supporting meaningful organizations throughout the United States and Canada, the Defender Service Awards is continuing to grow its philanthropic presence through Defender’s adventurous legacy. View All Defender For Sale Image Source: JLR

Off-Roading & More At The 2025 Defender Service Awards Winners’ Weekend

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 23, 2026

The 2025 Defender Service Awards Weekend In Manchester, VT

Late last year, we got the chance to join Defender at the Destination Defender West festival in Temecula, California. There, a weekend full of Land Rover heritage and outdoor enthusiasm, albeit rainy, was capped off with the Defender Service Awards Gala, an event where the winning finalists of the 2025 Defender Service Awards, presented by Chase, were announced, each receiving a donation of $30,000, along with a customized Defender 130 to help each organization with its mission. Six incredible organizations earned this distinction at the 2025 Defender Service Awards Gala: Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society from Vancouver, Canada, which rescues marine mammals like entangled seals, sea otters, and more, Jason’s Box from Paris, Kentucky, which offers severely injured veterans the opportunity to take part in free outdoor activities, Feeding Northeast Florida from Jacksonville, Florida, which combats food insecurity and hunger throughout twelve Florida counties, Chilliwack Search & Rescue from Chilliwack, Canada, a 100-percent volunteer-run search and rescue operation in British Columbia, Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada from Dorval, Canada, which delivers exciting activities to seriously ill children and their families, and West Place Animal Sanctuary from Tiverton, Rhode Island, which is dedicated to providing refuge to a diverse range of animal species across eight acres of historic farmland. In addition to the winners, all 30 of the category finalists were awarded $5,000 each by Chase, the presenting partner of the Defender Service Awards, and Artemis Cars, a Premier Partner of the Defender Service Awards, donated $10,000 each to the second-place finalists. Category sponsors at last year’s awards included S&P Global Mobility, Disney, ei3, Hearts & Science, PELICAN, and Outside. A total of $390,000 was given in prize funding at last year’s Defender Service Awards, part of a current total of over $1.5 million given by the Defender Service Awards, along with 30 vehicles. This past weekend, duPont REGISTRY got a front row seat as the winners gathered at JLR’s North American headquarters in Mahwah, New Jersey, where employees of the manufacturer were given presentations about each of the winning organizations, and representatives from the winning organizations were presented with their customized Defender 130 SUVs. Then, the winners, along with sponsors, drove roughly three hours to Manchester, Vermont for a celebratory and informative weekend with their new cars. <- Gallery -> One of two Land Rover Experience Centers in the United States calls Manchester, Vermont home, and it’s nestled in the Taconic Mountains right next to the majestic Mount Equinox. There, we got to experience the incredible off-road capability of the Defender 130 with the help of expert off-road driving instructors. While the Defender 130 features incredible technology like adjustable ride height, terrain response modes, surround cameras for tricky maneuvers, hill descent control, electronically locking differentials, and many more, the course and the instruction empower drivers, showing that the Defender’s assisting features are incredible tools that can be harnessed effectively, given skill and educated decisions. During the off-roading sessions, which included traversing some trails on Mount Equinox as well as in the Experience Center, one major highlight was when the instructor had drivers stop the car at the top of a tall and relatively steep hill, and with Hill Descent Control on, simply let go of the brake pedal. Your instinct tells you not to; you’re leaning forward with nothing but the sky in front of you if you look towards the horizon, and a steep descent in front of the hood, but once you let go of the brake pedal, the car carefully crawls down, and you continue your journey. After off-roading, lunch at Hill Farm offered a lovely farm-to-table culinary experience, along with alpacas on the property, after which team building exercises and a friendly competition of careful driving and pulling a classic Land Rover Defender with a rope added to the excitement. The evening consisted of a celebration of the winning organizations and their meaningful work, and on Sunday morning, we returned to Mahwah, saying goodbye to the new friends that were made in the camaraderie-filled adventure. With the new customized Defender 130 vehicles handed over to their deserving organizations, the Defender Service Awards, presented by Chase, looks forward to supporting even more charitable organizations in the future, combining the brand’s adventurous spirit and off-road dependability with poignant purpose in making the world a better place for everyone. View All Defender 130 For Sale Image Source: JLR/Chris Eckert Photography

Defender Rally Completes Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal With Three Cars

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 22, 2026

Defender Rally Wins At Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal

Defender Rally made an exciting debut earlier this year at the Dakar Rally, one of the motorsport world’s most daunting and legendary challenges, emerging victorious in the Stock Category of the race that it participated in. With three Defender D7X-R cars racing in the event, the plan was initially to have only two cars continue to race in the W2RC for the rest of the current season. However, that changed when it was announced that Sara Price and Sean Berriman would be racing at the Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal, which featured over 4,000 miles of racing in five stages. Racing through Portugal and Spain, that race has recently concluded, and all three Defender D7X-R rally cars crossed the finish line, helping maintain the team’s top standing within the Stock class of the championship. Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge took the overall win in the Stock class of the race, finishing in 11:57:33. Meanwhile, Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal came in second place with a 12:00:02 finish, and Sara Price and Sean Berriman finished in 13:09:58, finishing third after an arduous race including mud, water, trees, tight tracks, and more challenges. <- Gallery -> Official partners Castrol, YETI, Bilstein, and Bell & Ross, along with suppliers Shackleton and Alpinestars supported Defender Rally throughout the race, and the vehicle, the Defender D7X-R, is closely related to the roadgoing Defender OCTA. The flagship of the current Defender lineup, the OCTA is the pinnacle of Defender performance and luxury, with a 626-horsepower 4.4-liter V8 engine, impressive torque, luxurious features, and advanced technology for engaging and spirited driving on and off the tarmac. With another successful race completed in Portugal, Defender Rally is continuing the W2RC season with wind in its sails. View All Defender For Sale Image Source: JLR

Defender Rally Brings Three-Car Entry To bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 05, 2026

Three Defenders To Race In bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal

At the beginning of this year, Defender Rally took part in its first race as a team and began this year’s World Rally Raid Championship season by taking on one of the most legendary and daunting races in the rally sport: the Dakar Rally. Competing in the Stock category of the race, the team experienced incredible success in the effort, with drivers Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal winning, Sara Price and Sean Berriman placing second, and Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge placing fourth. Going into the Dakar Rally, the three-car effort was only going to compete in the Dakar Rally, while Peterhansel and Baciuška would drive in a two-car effort for the rest of the W2RC. However, it was recently announced that Defender Rally would bring the full Dakar team to the second round of the W2RC, which is taking place in Portugal. The bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, which will run from March 17 to March 22, with all three pairs of drivers taking the race on in the Defender D7X-R. Defender Rally is currently at the top of the W2RC’s Stock category standings after enjoying 1-2-3 finishes in ten of the 13 stages of the Dakar season opener, and the rally car is closely related to the production Defender OCTA, Defender’s performance-oriented flagship model. With the same 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, the D7X-R and the OCTA have the same immense power and much of the same off-road capability, while the rally car is modified for some of the more extreme racing conditions. <- Gallery -> The bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal will consist of five stages, starting in Grandola, and finishing in Loulé in the Algarve, covering over 1,300 miles, with a new route this year that promises more varied terrain and more challenging sections for drivers. As the team gets ready to take on the race in Portugal, Defender Rally will complete a pre-rally test program with the support of its partners, including Castrol, Bilstein, YETI and Bell & Ross, and suppliers Shackleton and Alpinestars. View All Defender For Sale Image Source: Defender Rally

By Khris Bharath – January 19, 2026

Land Rover Defender Wins Dakar Stock Class on Debut With Octa-based D7X-R

For any off-road vehicle, there’s no better way to prove its worth and what it can truly do than in competition. From early Camel Trophy expeditions to the modern Defender Trophy, Land Rover has set the bar for decades, and the British marque has now conquered a new frontier. In its debut appearance at the world’s most demanding off-road race, Defender Rally has won the 2026 Dakar Stock class in Saudi Arabia, led by Rokas Baciuška and co-driver Oriol Vidal in the Defender Dakar D7X-R. Their winning time of 58 hours, 9 minutes, and 45 seconds capped a campaign that saw the team finish first and second in class, with Sara Price and Sean Berriman close behind, and 14-time Dakar Rally winner, Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge completing the rally in fourth. “Dreams come true, you know, and it was my dream to win Dakar,” Baciuška said. “For the first year for Defender, it's amazing.” Price described the emotional payoff at the finish. “We had a goal at the final stage to get to the finish line as a team together,” she said. “To get this team to the finish line in P1 and P2 is just, wow, incredible.” Across 13 stages, the team with three Works vehicles logged ten separate 1-2-3 class finishes and covered nearly 15,000 miles of competition terrain, ranging from soft dunes to rock-riddled high-speed sections across the vast Saudi Arabian desert. The decisive moment came on Stage 13, where Baciuška secured the overall Stock class win with a time of 55 minutes and 51 seconds. The D7X-R’s significance lies in how close it remains to the road-going Defender OCTA. Each race vehicle starts life on the same aluminum body assembly line in Nitra, Slovakia. Built on the 110 chassis, the Dakar variant retains the D7X architecture, transmission layout, and the OCTA’s 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. For rally duty in W2RC competition, it gains a wider track, increased ride height, revised suspension, and enhanced cooling, changes required to survive sustained heat, low-speed load, and long stages. For Defender, Dakar also served as the opening round of the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship. Team principal Ian James added, “Honestly, I couldn’t be more proud of the entire team. Not only the fact that we've won Dakar in the way that we have, but the manner in which everybody's pulled together and worked so hard throughout has been simply outstanding.” Also, for Jaguar Land Rover, key models such as the Defender and Range Rover Sport sit at the heart of the company’s volume and profitability strategy globally, and such real-world accomplishments further reinforce the models' reputation and capability, which should inevitably help bolster sales. With more manufacturers expected to join the Stock class, Defender’s debut win sets an early benchmark. The campaign continues next in Portugal this March. View All Land Rover Defenders For Sale Images: Land Rover

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 14, 2026

Range Rover Unveils New London-Inspired Special Editions

Range Rover is one of the most respected names in the automotive industry, having practically invented the genre of the luxury SUV, and manufacturing a suite of models that still represent the quintessential luxury SUV today, combining enviable and sumptuous design and features with practicality, usability, and the makings of a Land Rover off-roading machine. However, beyond being one of the most influential luxury SUV manufacturers, Range Rover is one of the most important British marques in the entire automotive industry, and the capital of its home country, London, serves as inspiration for a new lineup of special edition Range Rovers. With centuries if not millenia of history, some of the richest culture, and one of the largest populations in the world, London is rich with places, stories, and traditions with which to inspire the creation of something like a special edition Range Rover, and Range Rover has just unveiled the beginning of a new collection of London-inspired vehicles: the Range Rover Evoque Hoxton Edition and the Range Rover Velar Belgravia Edition. Range Rover has its own deep connection with the city of London, as 1999’s Range Rover Linley Edition was inspired by the iconic luxury of the Mayfair area of the city, and the 50th Anniversary Edition Range Rover featured Henry Poole & Co. custom fabric, combining Range Rover Heritage with Savile Row craftsmanship. Starting the collection, the Evoque, combining a city-ready footprint with Range Rover capability and luxury, is given a twist that is inspired by the Hoxton neighborhood of London, which is known for a concentration of creativity and innovation. Satin Gold wheels, Platinum Atlas exterior styling, custom door sills and puddle lamps, as well as a leather-upholstered interior with contrast stitching and black brushed aluminum details, combine classic luxury with an energetic spirit. The new Range Rover Velar Belgravia Edition is inspired by the classic Georgian architecture and luxury lifestyle that Belgravia is known for. To achieve that inspiration, details throughout the vehicle, like Satin Black Lacquer accenting the 20-inch Dark Agate wheels, custom door sills, puddle lights, and contrast-stitched leather like the Evoque Hoxton Edition, combine to evoke classic luxury. Adding Satin Protective Film to the Velar for the first time, the Range Rover Velar Belgravia Edition Satin will be made in a limited run of 400 models, each of which will be marked as a 1-of-400 creation. However, those two models are just the beginning of the London-inspired collection. Two more models will be arriving in the spring: the Range Rover Sport Battersea Edition and the Range Rover Westminster Edition. The Range Rover Evoque Hoxton Edition and Range Rover Velar Belgravia Edition are available to order on January 15, showcasing luxury, capability, stunning craftsmanship, and design inspired by one of the world’s greatest cities. View All Range Rover For Sale Image Source: JLR

A white Defender Rally vehicle speeds through a sandy desert, kicking up orange dust, with rocky formations and a distant figure in the background—capturing the thrill of Stage 3 of the Dakar Rally.

By Tyler Rampersaud – January 07, 2026

Defender Rally Secures Third 1-2-3 Finish In Dakar Rally ...

Stage 3 of the Dakar Rally concluded with another Defender success. In the Stock Category of this year’s Dakar Rally, the cherished off-roading manufacturer Defender is trying its hand at victory for the first time, having brought three Defender OCTA-based D7X-R rally cars to the historic, legendary race with drivers Sara Price, Rokas Baciuška, and Stéphane Peterhansel behind the wheels of each. The race is off to a great start of the team, as the Prologue and Stage 2 of the 2026 Dakar Rally giving the team 1-2-3 finishes within their category. Stage 3 has since come to a close, and with over 250 miles of racing behind the team in the stage, another 1-2-3 stage victory in the Stock category was the result for the Defender Rally team. At the end of the stage, each driver pair now has a win, with Stage 3 seeing Stéphane Peterhansel with Mika Metge finishing in just 4 hours, 59 minutes, and 7 seconds, with Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal finishing second just a minute behind, and Sara Price and Sean Berriman finishing two and a half minutes later. Stage 4, with almost 300 miles of driving, takes place on January 7, and the first half of the marathon stage of the 2026 Rally is beginning. Already a legendary name in the world of off-roading and bold adventure, Defender’s racing effort at the 2026 Dakar Rally is quickly building a reputation for it in the rally motorsport world as a formidable contender on one of the world’s most challenging racing stages, and as the Dakar Rally continues, with the rest of the FIA W2RC ahead of that, a legacy is blossoming for the new Defender Rally team. View All Defender For Sale Image Source: JLR

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