Land Rover Defender as a convertible with V8: Comeback of a classic
Do you need that? No. Do you want that? Yes!!! Cruising through the forest in an open-top Defender, listening to the burble of a large-displacement V8 and feeling its power under your butt... That can make many a petrolhead swoon. Land Rover is now reviving this old legend.
It's been nine years since the old Land Rover Defender was retired. In 2019, the new generation arrived, revolutionizing both its style and mechanics. The ladder frame is history, but the off-road DNA hasn't been abandoned.
For those who still prefer traditional options, the British now offer a new and very special option. We're talking about the Classic Defender V8 Soft Top. Not a classic conversion, but a new edition of the off-road vehicle with a soft roof, built directly by Land Rover itself. A return to the past, full of charm and improved in many ways. And here's how.
No oldiesFirst, you need a donor vehicle—the car from which the new/old Defender V8 Soft Top will be created. At Solihull, home of the historic Land Rover factory, the specialists only accept vehicles produced between 2012 and 2016. Then the work begins.
Image by: Land Rover
The canvas top has authentic fastenings and straps, with new anchor points added for better support
First up is the custom-made fabric top with authentic fasteners and straps, equipped with new anchor points, and available in four colors: Black, Sand, Dark Khaki, and Navy. Also new is the frame cover: an old-fashioned style with more attention to detail.
That's where customization comes into play: 49 different body colors are available. If that's not enough, the Works department lets you create unique colors. Add to that the front grille, door handles, 16- or 18-inch alloy wheels, color for the interior leather, and accessories like a custom wine cooler. The limits are your imagination. Or your wallet.
Image by: Land Rover
The interior is exquisitely analogue and covered with leather
Traditionally, the Land Rover Defender V8 Soft Top Classic is not electric, but retains the 405 hp and 515 Nm 5.0-liter V8, which is coupled to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
The facelift is not only cosmetic, but also mechanical. It includes, among other things, an improved suspension and brakes. There are recalibrated coil springs, Eibach stabilizers, Bilstein dampers, and four-piston Alcon brakes with 335 mm discs at the front and 300 mm discs at the rear.
More tough guys:
A laborious undertaking, the cost of which is definitely not for everyone: The starting price of the Land Rover Defender V8 Soft Top Classic is £195,000 (approximately €229,000 at today's exchange rate). Phew!
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