Land Rover has introduced a new Defender V8 that packs a 386kW supercharged engine for a 0-100km/h time of 5.2 seconds and a top-speed of 240km/h! Sometimes too much power is never enough, even for Defender drivers, so Land Rover…
Sometimes too much power is never enough, even for Defender drivers, so Land Rover has introduced the new Defender V8 packing a 386kW 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine that’s good enough to propel the short wheelbase D90 from 0-100 in just 5.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 240km/h. The V8 is also available in the long wheelbase Defender 110.
Land Rover says the new Defender V8 is the ultimate expression of Land Rover’s toughest 4×4, and that it recalls the rich heritage of eight-cylinder Land Rovers dating back to the 1970s, although they didn’t pack nearly as much power or performance as this new model.
As well as its peak power output of 386kW, the new Defender V8 makes a handy 625Nm of torque and the engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Terrain response system scores a new ‘Dynamic’ program specifically aimed at allowing drivers to “exploit the more dynamic character and handling balance of the 386kW model on tarmac and loose surfaces”.
Want to see how it goes? Check out this Land Rover video:
As well as retuned suspension, the Defender V8 is equipped with larger-diameter solid anti-roll bars to minimise body roll in extreme cornering, while a unique Electronic Active Rear Differential features a Yaw Controller for fine control of cornering attitude as the Defender V8 reaches and exceeds grip limits.
The Defender V8 is distinguished by a number of styling enhancements including badges, quad exhausts, unique 22-inch alloy wheels, Xenon Blue brake callipers up front and 20-inch brake discs.
If the natural sound of the supercharged V8 isn’t enough to get your juices flowing, Land Rover says the “evocative soundtrack can be enhanced by selecting Dynamic mode in the Terrain Response system”.
“The 5.0-litre V8 supercharged engine further enhances the unique character of the Defender,” Iain Gray, Senior Manager, Powertrain Advanced Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover, said. “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.”
Inside, the Defender V8 sports Ebony Windsor Leather with Miko Suedecloth and Robustec accents, a satin black finish on the exposed Cross Car Beam, a four-spoke steering wheel with Alcantara rim and satin chrome gearshift paddles, and illuminated treadplates with a V8 script.
The price of admission? In Australia, the Defender 90 P525 V8 will set you back $200,540, while the 110 P525 V8 will cost $205,500.
Land Rover has also introduced a new P400 Defender XS Edition that replaces the First Edition model and sits above the SE spec in the range. Available in 90 and 110 variants, it comes with body-coloured lower cladding and lower wheel arches, distinctive 20-inch contrast diamond-turned alloy wheels, and a choice of four exterior colours: Silicon Silver, Hakuba Silver, Gondwana Stone and Santorini Black.
Inside, the XS has 12-way, heated and electric memory seats finished in Grained Leather, light-greay Cross Car Beam and illuminated metal treadplates.
Standard specification on the XS includes Electronic Air Suspension, Adaptive Dynamics and Configurable Terrain Response, Matrix LED headlights with signature DRL, ClearSight Rear View mirror technology and the state-of-the-art Pivi Pro infotainment system with 10-speaker Meridian sound system.
The full MY22 Defnder line-up is as follows:
