Jaguar Land Rover Classic reimagines vintage Land Rover Defender with V8 engine

Although the original Land Rover Defender ceased production in 2016, it still has a loyal fan base around the world. Land Rover’s Works Bespoke division has responded to the demand for customization and recreated the iconic Defender with updated features, improved chassis and a variety of personalization options. The “Classic Defender V8 by Works Bespoke” is available in two body styles: 90 and 110. All commissions will be “hand-rebuilt in the UK” by Land Rover Classic engineers and will be based on donor cars built between 2012 and 2016. In addition to the restoration, the Defender will undergo “hundreds of hours of painstaking work” to redesign and improve it.

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Classic Land Rover Defender V8 by Works Bespoke: Design details

Interested buyers can customize the look of their classic Defender with a choice of Land Rover’s Heritage, Contemporary, Premium or ‘SV Metallic’ paint. The roof can be finished in a contrasting colour, while the exterior trim is finished in silver or black. Land Rover has three grille designs (Heritage, Standard and Adventure) and features modern LED headlights. A wide range of accessories is also available, including side steps, winches, roof racks, ladders and adventure cages. Other options include the Adventure Pack, which mounts a tent on the roof, and the more extensive Ply Guys Camper Conversion, which turns the Defender into a real camper. A choice of 16-inch Wolf or 18-inch Sawtooth alloy wheels completes the design.

Classic Land Rover Defender V8 Custom Edition: Cabin

The reupholstered interior is now available in eight two-tone and five single-tone leather treatment options. Buyers can choose between firmer Recaro seats or more luxurious Premium seats. While maintaining the traditional look, the center console now features a new 3.5-inch touchscreen with DAB radio, Bluetooth connectivity and navigation. In addition, the brand has also adopted gloss black inserts and updated the gear selector.

Classic Land Rover Defender V8 Custom Edition: Mechanical Core

The Defender V8 by Bespoke Works features a revised suspension setup that includes Bilstein shock absorbers, Eibach coil springs and anti-roll bars. Four-piston Alcon brakes (335 mm at the front and 300 mm at the rear) complement the revised braking setup. As the name suggests, there is a V8 engine under the hood. Each restomod is equipped with JLR’s 5.0-litre naturally aspirated (NA) V8 engine that produces a maximum power of 400bhp and a peak torque of 515Nm. The unit is combined with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. The car can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.6 seconds and can reach a top speed of 170 km/h.

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Classic Land Rover Defender V8 Custom Edition: Prices

The Works Bespoke Classic Defender V8 is significantly more expensive than other Defender models. The four-seat Defender 90 starts at $251,345 (roughly Rs. 2.11 crore), the five-seat Defender 110 starts at $263,090 (roughly Rs. 2.20 crore), and the seven-seat Defender 110 starts at $269,700 (roughly Rs. 2.26 crore). It is worth noting that these prices do not include taxes and optional features.

The Classic Defender V8 is scheduled to make its public debut during the 2024 Goodwood Revival in September.