The 90in wheelbase model will hit 60mph from rest in just 5.6sec
The Defender Works V8 will have 399bhp
The 5.0-litre V8 Defender will be the most powerful and fastest yet made
The re-engineered Defenders use an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission
Prices will start from £150,000
A plush leather interior will come as part of the package
Eight colours will be offered, with contrasting black roof...
...wheel arches and grille
The all-new Defender, which will succeed the original, is due next year
Land Rover is re-engineering up to 150 Defenders with V8 engines, to celebrate the model’s 70th birthday.
The 5.0-litre V8 Defender will be the most powerful and fastest yet made, with the 90in wheelbase model hitting 60mph from rest in 5.6sec.
New Land Rover Defender edges closer to production as cold weather testing commences
The Defender Works V8 will produce 399bhp and 380lb ft, while the standard Defender made just 120bhp and 266lb ft.
Land Rover said it pays homage to early high-powered engines such as the Series III Stage V8 and the 50th Anniversary Edition. The Defender Works V8 is the first official V8 Defender to be launched since 1998.
Crossing the Atlantic in a Land Rover Defender (sort of)
The re-engineered Defenders use an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with sport mode, along with uprated brakes, a handling kit consisting of springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, and exclusive 18in alloys with 265/65 tyres.
Eight colours will be offered, with contrasting black roof, wheel arches and grille, and machined aluminium door handles, fuel filler cap and bonnet lettering will feature.
The interior will have a leather dashboard, door panels, headlining and Recaro sports seats and use the Land Rover Classic heritage arm’s infotainment system.
JLR Classic to restore recently discovered 1948 Land Rover launch car
Both 90 and 110 wheelbase Defender Works V8 models will be available, with prices starting from £150,000. Land Rover said other high-performance upgrades inspired by the Defender Works V8 will be offered this year, including power upgrades for the TDCi diesel engine and fast-road suspension and braking kits.
Jaguar Land Rover Classic director Tim Hannig said: “The idea of a V8 Defender was discussed in 2014, when we were still building the Defender. We knew demand was there for a powerful and fast Defender.”
The Defender Works V8 begins a year of 70th anniversary celebrations for the model, culminating later this year with the unveiling of an all-new Defender.
Jaguar Land Rover recorded its biggest annual sales volume yet last year, with 621,109 vehicles sold, a 7% increase on 2016. Jaguar’s sales increased 20% to 178,601, while Land Rover sales grew by 2% to 442,508.
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Andy_Cowe
Lasr Defender
These are probably the last Defenders. As the new ones apparently only share a name, not a purpose.
ridnufc
To be fair
to be fair these ones hardly share a purpose with the original defender and definitely not the original series Land Rover.
im pretty sure mr wilks original purpose for an agricultural vehicle didn’t include white leather, 0-60 in 5 seconds and a bejewelled middle eastern 20 something driving through Mayfair looking for high class escorts.
tuga
Should we care?
I mean, if they're only making 150 i'm guessing they're all sold already
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