We kicked things off by stepping into the world of the Defender Trophy, a rare edition that draws inspiration from the 1980s and 90s overland expeditions. With its retro heritage colors, vintage badging, and rugged roof-mounted lights, the Trophy looks like it just came back from a desert rally.

But don’t let the old school vibe fool you, this Defender is packed with smart off road tools and a refined drive system. Skid plates, side rails, and heavy duty tires made easy work of narrow trails, muddy paths, and steep inclines. It’s a perfect fusion of Land Rover’s rich exploration past and its modern technological precision.

Leaving the forest trails behind, we jumped into the driver’s seat of the all new Defender OCTA, the most extreme Defender Land Rover has ever built. Under the hood lies a twin turbocharged V8 paired with a rally inspired suspension system, creating a driving feel that’s more race car than SUV.

What stood out most was how composed the OCTA remained over rough terrain. Whether hitting gravel curves or bouncing over boulders, the advanced suspension soaked it up with ease. It was raw, responsive, and ridiculously capable.

More than just a showpiece, OCTA proved that high performance and rugged utility can go hand in hand, creating a Defender that delivers luxury, power, and serious off road dominance.

Our exclusive access continued with a look at a prototype Defender being developed for one of the toughest races in the world—Rally Dakar. This version has been stripped down and rebuilt with purpose: an upgraded cooling system for desert temps, a full roll cage, enhanced suspension for sandy stages, and a satellite navigation setup made for racing.

It’s raw, it’s loud, and it’s built to survive the harshest conditions imaginable. Seeing this Defender in action was like watching an armored beast in training. It reminded us how deep Land Rover’s off road DNA truly runs.

To round out the adventure, we took every Defender model into a brutal desert simulation. Sand climbs, deep mud, and uneven rocks put their systems to the test. Whether it was crawl mode, hill descent control, or the 360 degree off road cameras, the Defenders performed with stunning control and confidence.

Each model adapted to its environment seamlessly, highlighting the genius of Land Rover’s terrain response systems. It wasn’t just about brute strength, but about smart traction, visibility, and driver support.

At the end of our trip, Motor283 host Nabeel Mostafa revealed an exclusive preview of the 2026 Defender. Smoother lines, smarter tech, and a hybrid powertrain headline this next generation. It features a larger central display, semi autonomous driving systems, and multiple trims designed to suit both the hardcore adventurer and the everyday driver.

This glimpse into the future showed that Land Rover isn’t just honoring its legacy, it’s pushing it forward.

From retro tributes to rally warriors and futuristic hybrids, our Defender off road special from Goodwood 2025 is a celebration of everything Land Rover stands for. Whether you live for dune climbs or just love the Defender’s unmistakable presence, this episode is not to be missed.

Watch now on Motor283’s YouTube channel and experience the wild side of luxury off roading.