The Defender is a storied name in Land Rover’s history. The previous-generation model continued the legacy of the British brand’s original Series I version from 1948 before leaving the market in 2016. The company replaced it with a new Defender featuring boxy, retro styling and thoroughly modern underpinnings.
When Land Rover finally killed the original Defender, there was an outcry among fans to keep the old model going. The chemical company Ineos responded by launching the Grenadier as a close homage to the rugged SUV. In addition, coachbuilders such as ECD and Ares started modifying classic Defenders to convert them into even more capable machines.
Even the Land Rover Classic division sees that there’s still demand for the classic SUV. Its latest project is the Defender V8 Works Bespoke Soft Top with a short wheelbase and a bikini-style roof. They’re available now in the United Kingdom with the eye-watering starting price of $260,000 (195,000 pounds).
The Defender Holds The Line
The Defender V8 Works Bespoke Soft Top is the first open-roof example available from the automaker since 2016. All of these models ride on a roughly 90-inch wheelbase. There’s a removable fabric roof above the two-seat passenger compartment, and the pickup’s cargo bed remains exposed. The Land Rover Classic builds each one to order and incorporates the customer’s personalization preferences.
Defender V8 Works Bespoke Soft Top Specs
|
Specification |
Figure |
|
Engine |
Naturally Aspirated 5.0-Liter V-8 |
|
Power |
400 HP @ 6,000 RPM |
|
Torque |
380 LB-FT @ 5,000 RPM |
|
Transmission |
8‑speed Automatic |
|
Drivetrain |
Four-Wheel Drive With Two-Speed Transfer Case And Torque-Biasing Center Differential |
|
0-60 MPH |
5.6 Seconds |
|
Top Speed |
106 MPH |
|
Suspension |
Live Axles With Eibach Spring And Bilstein Dampers |
|
Brakes |
Alcon Four‑Piston Calipers At Each Corner |
Each build starts with a specially sourced 2012-2016 Defender donor vehicle. The production then requires hundreds of hours from the company’s specialists. Clients then have the choice of four roof colors: Black, Sand, Dark Khaki, and Navy. Similar to a Jeep Wrangler, owners can unzip the side and rear panels for an open-air experience.
Land Rover Classic offers this Defender in 49 paint colors. However, if someone can’t find a shade they want, the division can also create a paint-to-sample custom hue. There’s also the ability to pick the look for the grille, door handles, door script, and wheel finish. The division offers the cabin in five monotone upholstery choices and eight two-tone options. The list of available upgrades includes amenities such as an onboard wine cooler and a surfboard rack.
A Little History
Land Rover first offered a V-8 in the Series III model in 1979. These models initially used a 3.5-liter Rover V-8 making just 90 horsepower. Power upgrades in the 1980s eventually increased the output to 135 hp by 1987. The North American model in the early 1990s had a 3.9-liter V-8 producing 182 hp, and there was a limited-run 1998 variant with a 190-hp 4.0-liter eight-cylinder powerplant.
TopSpeed’s Take
For someone living in a warm climate, the Defender V8 Works Bespoke Soft Top would be an intriguing alternative to a Jeep Wrangler. The combination of 400 hp, four-wheel drive, and a short wheelbase should create quite an off-roader. The personalization options, such as custom paint and upholstery, allow wealthy customers to select a custom SUV for riding in style.
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