For Land Rover Defender owners looking for a radical
variant of their heavy-duty off-roader, Florida-based East Coast Defender
answers the call with some extreme offerings. The company’s latest SUV, Project
Tuki, is a little different from the firm’s regular vehicles.
The tuner took a Defender 110 and modified the
vehicle to celebrate the SUV’s original look. The 4×4’s exterior shades of
Keswick Green and white, for instance, are pure old-school Defender. The
heritage front grille and white steel wheels are the icing on the cake.
Under the green hood sits a rebuilt Rover V8 that
produces 175 hp. Like we said, this is a heritage-inspired build, not something
crazy like the Corvette-powered Project XIII. The engine is paired to ZF
five-speed automatic gearbox.
The interior is also a nod to the Defender’s classic
styling. The SUV features Panda Charcoal leather on Puma seats, a Nardi wooden
steering wheel, All American Nickle Series gauges and black leather scattered
throughout. There are some modern touches on the interior including a
Kenwood infotainment system and a backup camera.
East Coast Defender’s latest project is
one of its best looking we’ve seen so far. It goes without saying that
something this unique and good looking certainly won’t be cheap. The company
didn’t provide pricing, though, which means that it’s probably a lot more
expensive than we’re guessing.
With a new Defender right around the corner, East
Coast Defender’s Project Tuki couldn’t have come at a better time for those who
love the original.
