Land Rover Defender V8 heats up off-roader segment

If the V8 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 was poised to fight for the limelight with the Ford Bronco, the assault has now come from another direction. While we still wait for a high-performance Bronco, the pricier Land Rover Defender V8 is here now and it is a 518 hp beast available in both three-door or five-door configurations.

The heart of the Defender V8 is where the change lies. Under the hood resides the same 5.0-litre supercharged V8 from the other performance derivates in the JLR lineup. The V8 produces 518 hp of power and 625  Nm of torque and channels them through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Defender V8 can rush from 0 to 100 kph in just over 5 seconds. The top speed is a respectable 240 kph.

To cope up with this additional firepower, the Defender V8 gets additional spruce-ups in the form of thicker anti-roll bars and a new yaw controller in the rear differential. The terrain response system gets a new Dynamic driving setting that alters the throttle response and the stiffness of the suspension.

To set apart the Land Rover Defender V8 from the regular bunch, there are slight tweaks on the design. Blue brake calipers peek through the large 22-inch wheels while the rear is detailed by the quad exhaust pipes. Three body shades, Carpathian Grey, Yulong White, and Santorini Black are offered.

The interior is updated with Ebony Windsor Leather upholstery with Miko Suedecloth and Robustec accents while the steering wheel is wrapped in Alcantara. If you opt for the Defender V8 Carpathian edition, it will add the body in Carpathian Grey with Narvik Black on the roof, bonnet, and tailgate. On the tech front, the Defender V8 gets has a larger optional 11.4 screen for the Pivi Pro infotainment system. Wireless charging is standard.

There are updates to the rest of the Defender lineup too, not just the Defender V8. A new XS edition comes in to replace the First Edition Defender. This adds body-coloured lower cladding and wheel arches and 20-inch satin grey wheels. The interior gets Ebony Grained Leather and Woven Textile. It also gets 12-way adjustable, heated, and cooled front seats.

Expect these models to hit UAE and GCC showrooms in the second half of this year.