Power and ability to tackle any terrain and any situation, on and off-road. Land Rover’s unstoppable 4 × 4 family has been enriched with the arrival of the Defender V8, the most powerful in the line-up of the historic British off-road vehicle protagonist of our test drive today. Here there is no type of electrification but a mighty eight-cylinder that is part of a decades-long tradition that has always distinguished this car. Thus was born the most powerful Defender ever, customizable and highly engaging when you get behind the wheel. Is she really ready for anything? Let’s find out together.
The new Land Rover Defender V8 is available in both the 110 and the 90 variant. The livery in Santorini Black accentuates the imposing and massive appearance of the British off-road vehicle which in this full-power version looks even more extreme. The V8 badges, present on the sides and on the tailgate, stand out on the bodywork. Behind the specific rims with keying, which can reach 22 ”in size, stand out Brembo brake calipers finished in flamboyant Xenon Blue. At the rear then, two pairs of exhaust pipes peek out that allow the mighty eight-cylinder to vent at its best. The whole bodywork is coated with Satin Protective Film, a special semi-opaque recyclable polyurethane film that allows you to tackle off-road without worries but also to protect the car from scratches that can be remedied in parking lots.
To underline that this is the most powerful version of the range, he also thinks about it the illuminated door sill with lots of V8 lettering, which welcomes you when you enter the passenger compartment. Here the environment is elegant and refined, thanks to the use of precious materials: the steering wheel rim, for example, is covered with Alcantara while the paddle shifts that emerge from the steering column are finished in satin chrome. The dashboard upholstery is in ebony Windsor leather with Mico and Robustec microfiber suede details. The care of the finishes also includes the gear lever and the airbag housings. The visible crossbar is then in Satin Black. The load capacity remains unchanged, which on the 90 version protagonist of our test stands at 397 liters, which become 1,563 liters if the seats are knocked down.
The top of the range of the new Defender family is powered by a powerful V8 Supercharged 5.0 engine capable of delivering 525 hp and 624 Nm of maximum torque. In configuration 90, the protagonist of our test, this engine guarantees unique performance considering the imposing size of this car. The sprint from 0 to 100 km / h is consumed in 5.2 seconds while the top speed is 240 km / h. All in all, fuel consumption is also good: beyond the off-road use, we found a figure of 13.5 l / 100 km in the motorway sections which is even lower than that stated by the British car manufacturer. In the center of the board it is then possible to interact with the functions of the multimedia system as well as those relating to driving dynamics thanks to the 11.4 ”touch screen based on the latest update of the Pivi Pro. More responsive and equipped with new connectivity features, this display also allows you to manage the Terrain Response Dynamic program. A unicum in the Defender range.
When you press the power button of Land Rover Defender V8 you are immediately pervaded by a feeling, that of being in your hands much more than a simple off-road vehicle. The eight-cylinder engine has an adrenaline-pumping thrust and sound, capable of pushing the more than 25 quintals of mass almost as if the scales were not an obstacle. Stability and handling pleasantly surprise and it is difficult to get tired: on the highway it can be constant and sly but if you try to tear or throw yourself off the road more badly, Defender V8 amuses and seems to shout its exclusivity, the result of a tradition that makes it an animal on the road extinction.
Versatility and unique performance. These are undoubtedly the words that best describe the soul of the Defender V8, a mix of tradition and technology that knows how not to go unnoticed with the dark sound of the eight-cylinder. The top of the range is available in three colors, Carpathian Gray, Yulong White and Santorini Black, the first two with a black contrast roof and a series of customization packs that make the British off-road vehicle suitable for any taste. The price list of Land Rover Defender V8 starts at 120,600 euros.
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