Land Rover Defender V8 confirmed, but not cheap
386kW 5.0-litre blown V8 Defender to cost $200K-plus as broader MY22 range pushes higherThe long-awaited V8 version of the new-age Land Rover Defender is on its way to Australia, but it doesn’t come cheap at $200,540 plus on-road costs for the short-wheelbase 90 and $205,500 plus ORCs for the 110.
The latter sees the incoming MY22 Land Rover Defender 110 P525 V8 carry a whopping $60,210 premium over the previous range-topping model – the 110 P400 X that uses a 294kW/550Nm 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine (with mild-hybrid tech).
For MY22, the 110 P400 X is listed at $145,290 plus ORCs, up $7600 on MY21 and reflecting further price increases that’ve kicked in across the Defender range.
As expected, the V8-powered Land Rover Defender gets the 5.0-litre supercharged ‘AJ’ V8 used elsewhere in the British brand’s stable, and in the reborn off-roader – equipped with the familiar eight-speed automatic transmission – it belts out 386kW and 625Nm of torque.
Land Rover is quick to point out that this makes it the fastest and most powerful Defender to ever reach series production, with the 90 version devouring 0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds on its way to a 240km/h top speed.
There’s no fuel consumption figures quoted, but we’d expect about 12L/100km on the official combined cycle and double that in the real world, if our experience with the Range Rover Sport SVR with the same engine in a higher tune (423kW/700Nm) is anything to go by.
That’s perhaps not something Jaguar Land Rover is looking to promote so soon after announcing that Jag would become an all-electric brand from 2025 – say goodbye to the Jaguar F-TYPE SVR with its blown 5.0-litre AJ V8 – and that LR will also move to electrification, albeit at a slower rate of pace as combustion engines are set to continue until 2036.
As well as brute force, Land Rover says the Defender P525 V8 comes with unique suspension and transmission tuning, including specific spring and damper rates and a new Electronic Active Rear Differential with yaw controller.
It also gets thicker anti-roll bars and a unique ‘Dynamic’ program within the Terrain Response system, which LR says “helps drivers to exploit the more dynamic character and handling balance of the 386kW model on tarmac and loose surfaces”.
Identifying V8 markers include 22-inch Satin Dark Grey alloy wheels, 20-inch brake discs with Xenon Blue callipers, quad exhaust with distinctive tailpipes and unique badging.
Customers have the choice of three exterior colours – Carpathian Grey, Yulong White and Santorini Black – all with a contrasting roof in Narvik Black. The V8 also carries Shadow Atlas exterior detailing.
Inside, the Defender V8’s seats are trimmed in Ebony Windsor Leather with Miko Suedecloth and Robustec accents, each finished with a unique Ebony tag, while the exposed Cross Car Beam has a special Satin Black finish.
The four-spoke steering wheel has an Alcantara rim and satin chrome shift paddles. Leather covers the airbag housing and gear lever, while illuminated treadplates are completed with a V8 script.
New XS Edition
Apart from the V8, the MY22 Land Rover Defender range – all variants of which are due to arrive in Australia in July 2021 – ushers in a new XS Edition, which is built around the P400 petrol powertrain and replaces the previous First Edition.
Exterior features on the XS Edition include body-coloured lower cladding and lower wheel-arches, and 20-inch diamond-turned alloy wheels finished in Satin Grey.
It has a choice of four exterior colour options: Silicon Silver, Hakuba Silver, Gondwana Stone and Santorini Black.
Inside, the XS Edition’s 12-way, heated and electric memory seats are finished in Grained Leather, while the Cross Car Beam has a Light Grey powder coat brushed finish. Illuminated metal treadplates are also included.
Other standard spec extends to electronic air suspension, adaptive dynamics, configurable Terrain Response, Matrix LED headlights with signature DRL, ClearSight rear-view mirror tech and the Pivi Pro infotainment system with 10-speaker Meridian sound system.
Other MY22 Defender tweaks
Land Rover Australia has also introduced new exterior design packs with the MY22 Defender – the Bright Pack, Extended Bright Pack and Extended Black Pack – that have unique exterior trim for areas including the front and rear skid plates, grille, badging, lower body cladding and wheel-arches.
Buyers also now have the option of specifying a larger 11.4-inch Pivi Pro infotainment touch-screen – up from the standard 10-inch display – while wireless smartphone charging is included with the Comfort and Convenience Pack.
How much does the MY22 Land Rover Defender cost?
90 P300 – $74,640
90 D200 – $81,290
90 D250 S – $90,450
90 P300 S – $83,470
90 P400 SE – $100,450
90 P400 XS Edition – $110,640
90 P400 X – $141,480
90 P525 V8 – $200,540
110 P300 – $76,960
110 D250 – $82,590
110 D250 S – $91,220
110 P400 S – $92,360
110 D300 SE – $ 96,780
110 P400 SE – $103,800
110 P400 XS Edition – $113,580
110 D300 X-Dynamic HSE – $113,980
110 P400 X-Dynamic HSE – $120,480
110 D300 X – $143,190
110 P400 X – $145,290
110 P525 V8 – $205,500
* Prices exclude on-road costs
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
