The special
Land Rover Defender Works V8 has been sold out. Back in late January Land Rover
surprised everyone with their announcement to offer 150 examples of the
presumably dead Defender, fitted with a high-performance V8 under the bonnet to
celebrate the brand’s 70th anniversary.
The company has found a home for each one of the 150
Defender Works V8 models according to Autocar. Prices started from an
eye-watering £ 150,000 (around US$ 209,000 in current exchange rates).
The limited Defender is a re-engineered version of
the classic off-road model, featuring uprated brakes and special springs,
dampers and anti-roll bars along with a set of 18-inch alloy wheels.
Of course the real highlight is the 5.0-liter V8
that produces 405 PS and 515 Nm of peak torque, paired to an
eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. Classic features of the Defender, like
the two-speed transfer box and the live axles front and rear are still present.
Performance is unusually strong
for a Defender, with the classic 0-60 mph estimated at 5.6 seconds for the short
90-in wheelbase model. Top speed is limited to 106 mph.
The limited Land Rover Defender Works V8 was
available in both short 90 and long 110 versions, with each model getting a
leather interior along with Recaro sports seats. The special and final
iteration of the British off-roader was offered for sale in the UK, with
customers from Europe, North Africa and the Middle East able to order one on an
individual import basis.
