Land Rover: The best of both worlds 🎥
POWER-BRITE V8 engines are important, especially now. Maybe not necessarily to protect the climate - that's what plug-in hybrids and electric cars are for. But for the well-being of their usually discerning buyers. For the 70th birthday of the first Defender, Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works gave the model a 5.0-liter V8. And that's why the Defender is now available with [...]
For the 70th birthday of the first Defender, Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works gave the model a 5.0-liter V8.
And that's why the Defender is now available with an eight-cylinder engine and 525 hp. The car seems like a rolling anachronism in times when the registration figures for e-cars are rising and the network for charging stations is becoming more closely meshed.
But recently, the EU Commission itself has provided good arguments for the industry to throw even more engines with ample displacement and power onto the market as quickly as possible. If no more internal combustion engines can be newly registered in the future, their end is sealed.
Maximum torque stems 625 Nm
The idea of such a brute force drive for the off-road icon is not entirely new. For the 70th birthday of the first Defender generation, the inventors at Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works also gave the car a 5.0-liter V8.
However, its output of 405 hp pales in comparison to the current eight-cylinder. Today it's 120 more and the maximum torque of 515 Newton meters at the time has also increased by 110 Nm. The supercharged engine makes this available from 2500 rpm. The factory specifies the top speed as 240 km/h.
Exclusive driving mode with response system
In light of such performance data, it seemed obvious to add an exclusive driving mode to the Terrain Response system, which can be adjusted for various ground and slope characteristics. The dynamic program ensures more direct throttle response, adjusts the damping of the electronically controlled air suspension continuously and variably, tightens the steering for more direct grip and optimizes the traction control.
The spring and damper rates have been retuned and larger stabilizer bars installed to reduce side lean in fast corners. After all, the V8 Defender is 1.97 meters tall.
Quad tailpipes create powerful sound
The Defender V8 cannot be accused of pushing itself too much into the foreground visually. Given the sheer mass of the two-and-a-half-ton vehicle, the 22-inch wheels don't look particularly striking.
Behind the spokes of the wheels, the brake calipers shimmer in blue as a hidden signal for connoisseurs. A voluminous cloud of sound escapes from the quadruple tailpipes when the car is in motion, as only an eight-cylinder engine can authentically produce.
The upholstery, covered in Windsor leather and fine velour, creates a touch of luxury in an interior otherwise designed for durability.
Comprehensive package of assistance systems
The car comes with a head-up display and chrome shift paddles for operating the eight-speed automatic, as well as a comprehensive package of safety and assistance systems. No one needs to do without LED matrix headlights, a camera-assisted interior mirror, panoramic glass sunroof, infotainment system with ten-inch touchscreen and watt depth sensor either.
The best of both worlds seems to be united here: on the road the powerful drive and the sovereignty of the sports car, in rough off-road sections the uncompromising climber, for which real obstacles have yet to be invented.
Gasoline engines perform from 200 hp to 525 hp
Prices for the Defender start at 67,400 francs for the three-liter six-cylinder with 200 hp. The hybrid costs from 86,400 francs.
The basic version with the V8 is available from 145 100 Swiss francs. Other derivatives of the Defender are the four-cylinder P300 gasoline engine (from 70,400 Swiss francs) and the six-cylinder P400 gasoline engine (from 81,600 Swiss francs).
