Land Rover has brought back an iconic nameplate. The British automaker has announced the Defender Works V8 — a limited-edition model that celebrates the marque's 70th anniversary.
The Land Rover Defender Works V8 pays homage to the early high-performance Defenders such as the Series III Stage I V8 from 1979 as well as the nameplate's 50th-anniversary edition. For its 70th anniversary, however, the British automaker has introduced the most powerful and fastest version of the Defender ever created.
Defender Works V8 is powered by a 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine that delivers 400 horsepower and 387 pound-feet of torque. The powertrain is mated to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with sport mode and comes standard with an all-wheel drive.
It can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour (mph) in 5.6 seconds and attains a top speed of 106 mph.
The V8 powertrain has been fitted to current-generation Defenders that were selected and reengineered for the 70th-anniversary edition. The models are also equipped with upgraded brakes, a new suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires.
Prospective customers will be able to choose from eight different body colors and the 90 or 110 wheelbase options.
The roof, wheel arches and front grille come in Santorini Black while the door handles, fuel cap and Defender badging on the hood have a machined aluminum finish. Bi-LED headlamps are also available.
Meanwhile, the interior features a Full Windsor leather trim on the dashboard, door panels, headliner and Recaro sports seats. The Land Rover Classic's infotainment system is also offered for the Defender Works V8.
The Defender Works V8 is available to purchase in the United Kingdom with a starting price of £150,000 ($208,000). Since it is a collector's edition, only 150 examples will be produced.
Meanwhile, the next-generation Defender is expected to arrive sometime in 2019 or 2020. Though Land Rover has not made any official announcements yet, spy shots have already spotted prototypes of the upcoming vehicle.
