Land Rover’s new Defender V8

February 26, 2021
Automotive

Land Rover’s unstoppable 4×4 family has just welcomed the powerful new Defender V8 into the fold.

The new 386kW 5.0-litre supercharged engine powers the fastest and most powerful production Defender ever made, with the 2-door Defender 90 reaching 100km/h in an impressive 5.2 seconds.

Defender V8 Drive Train

Producing 518hp and 625Nm of torque and sporting a new Dynamic program within the Terrain Response system that is only available in V8-powered Defenders, the new Defender delivers unrivalled agility and driver appeal both on and off the road.

“The 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine further enhances the unique character of the Defender. It sounds fantastic and delivers incredible performance – providing new levels of driver appeal. Our engineering focus has been to optimise powertrain calibration for Defender to deliver both responsive on-road performance and fine control off-road – all without compromising Defender’s unstoppable all-terrain capability and wading ability,” says Iain Gray, Senior Manager, Powertrain Advanced Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover.

The Defender’s existing ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission manages power, routing it to all four wheels through an upgraded version of the regular SUV’s four-wheel-drive system.

Stiffer bushings and larger anti-roll bars reduce body lean in extreme cornering, while the new electronic rear differential incorporates yaw control that works in tandem with the new Dynamic drive mode.

Dynamic mode in Terrain Response 2 gives Defender a playful, responsive and more agile character. A sharper throttle, stiffened suspension and active torque vectoring make the Defender more engaging and more controllable than ever.

Exterior

The new Defender V8, available in 4-door 110 or 2-door 90 body configurations, also incorporates unique exterior enhancements. These include:

bespoke exterior badging
quad exhausts with distinctive tailpipes
22-inch alloy wheels with Satin Dark Grey finish
Xenon Blue brake callipers and 20-inch brake disks
Shadow Atlas exterior detailing.

Customers can choose between three paint colours: Carpathian Grey, Yulong White, and Santorini Black. In addition, the former two options boast a contrasting Narvik Black roof.

Interior

Inside, the V8 arrives with a darkened theme, complete with satin metal touchpoints, Ebony Windsor Leather-trimmed seats, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, satin chrome shift paddles as well as special V8 scripting on the illuminated sill treadplates.

Defender V8 Carpathian Edition

The flagship Defender V8 Carpathian Edition is the ultimate expression of performance, durability and design.

Finished exclusively in Carpathian Grey, the model includes splashes of Narvik Black on its roof, hood, and tail door.

Additional visual highlights include Carpathian Edition-specific badging, colour-matched front-and-rear skidplates and Satin Black towing eyes.

Finally, the semi-matte Satin Protective Film protects against everything from car park paint scratches to off-road bramble rash.

Defender XS Edition

The new XS Edition replaces the hugely successful First Edition. It features a unique exterior and interior treatment and is available in both 90 and 110 body designs.

It is available with a choice of powerful and efficient powertrains, including the 2.0-litre D240 diesel and 3.0-litre P400 petrol.

The XS Edition is identified by its bespoke body-coloured lower cladding and lower wheel arches as well as its distinctive 20-inch, contrast diamond-turned alloy wheels finished in Satin Grey.

Also, four exterior colour options are available: Silicon Silver, Hakuba Silver, Gondwana Stone and Santorini Black.

Inside, the XS Edition features 12-way heated electric-memory seats finished in grained leather and a light grey powder-coated cross beam.

Pivi Pro Upgrade

New for the 2022 model, the Defender is available with wireless device charging, a signal booster and enhanced connectivity through the latest Pivi Pro infotainment system.

The Pivi Pro offers a customisable interface, intelligent navigation and Smart Voice Guidance.

The larger 11.4-inch touchscreen is also available as an option.

Personalisation with Exterior Packs

The Bright Pack and Extended Bright Packs are available on all Defender models. The Bright Pack features a Noble Chrome finish for the front and rear skid plates, plus a Noble Chrome Grille bar and badging. The Extended Bright Pack adds Ceres Silver to the lower body cladding as well as the wheel arches.

The Extended Black Package can be tacked onto the Defender X, Defender X-Dynamic and also the Defender V8. It provides a Gloss Black finish for the front and rear skid plates, grille bar, bonnet chequer finisher, badging, lower body cladding and wheel arches for a stealthy and purposeful appearance.