Land Rover Defender Classic Returns With V8

The Land Rover Defender has always been more than just a vehicle. It’s a symbol of adventure and durability. The Defender was first launched in 1948, It was designed as a practical, go-anywhere workhorse for farmers and the military. Over the years, it evolved into an icon, loved by explorers and off-road enthusiasts for its rugged charm and unbeatable toughness. Though the original Defender stopped production in 2016, its spirit lived on, sparking a loyal fanbase. Now, in a revival, Land Rover is bringing back the classic Defender V8, this time with a soft top, giving fans a chance to experience that same legendary freedom and adventure.

Design

This is the first Defender Soft Top that Land Rover has produced since the original went out of production in 2016, and as with its predecessors, a short-wheelbase Defender 90 has been used as the base. Land Rover has fitted a roof frame specifically designed for the Classic V8 Soft Top, which takes inspiration from those found on the original models sold in North America, plus added extra tie-down points to keep the canvas roof tightly secured at road speeds.

Along with that, the wheel options include either a 16-inch ‘Wolf’ or an 18-inch ‘Sawtooth’ design. The collaboration of all this gives the resto-mod a retro yet modernly relevant look. The vehicle has boxy characteristics along with big curvy-square arches that make it more off-road ready.

Interior

The interior is provided with a classic retro look as well. Most enthusiastic customers would regard it as a “no-nonsense” interior, while others could suggest it simply lacks features for the price. Filled with plastic yet physical buttons, not a single screen in sight.

The interior is almost completely wrapped in leather, along with a classic retro steering wheel. An odd element could be that the gear shifter is from a modern-day Defender.

Powertrain and Chassis

The Defender Classic is a proper ladder-frame chassis, pure-bred SUV, which can surely be rough to drive but would reward with extreme off-road capability. The older Defender’s engine is replaced with an updated 5.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine, making 400 BHP and 515 Nm of Torque. This engine is connected to a ZF-8 speed automatic transmission and a Four-wheel-drive system. This engine can sprint the car from 0-100 in a blistering 5.6 seconds.

Pricing and Rivals

The pricing that Land Rover’s classic division has announced may sound absurd to most. The price starts at € 237,000 (about Rs. 2.27 Crore) ex-showroom. Indian entry through the CBU route is not confirmed, but if it does come, the prices can go north of Rs. 4.5 Crore! At this price, there is no contender as a rival for this vehicle other than the Mercedes-Benz G63 and the Defender Octa.

Verdict

The Official Resto-mod from the Land Rover company, the Defender classic softop is purely made for enthusiasts and doesn’t hold any modern relevance except for its off-road capabilities. This vehicle is made purely for enthusiasts and collectors who love the old Defender with its rugged appeal. The price is too high, and cheaper options are simply better when all factors are taken into consideration.