Photo: CarPix
When the Land Rover Series was renamed Defender in 1983, the British automaker offered an eight-cylinder engine in the guise of the Rover 3.5-liter V8. More than three decades later, the body-on-frame SUV received the JLR 5.0-liter AJ-V8 with 405 PS (400 horsepower) on tap.
Marketed as the Works V8, this special edition marked the 70th anniversary of Land Rover’s establishment in the aftermath of World War II. The all-new Defender with a unibody construction will receive an eight-cylinder engine as well, but Land Rover is keeping its lips shut on the finer details.
Previously spied with five doors and a long wheelbase, the V8 option will also be available with three doors and a short wheelbase. Caught by the carparazzi with camouflage from head to toe, the prototype in the photo gallery is a left-hand-drive model even though it flaunts GB license plates.
The brake calipers and rotors appear to be the same size as lesser versions of the Defender 90 and Defender 110, and the five-spoke wheels look somewhat underwhelming as well. Looking through the glasshouse, you’ll notice not much has changed in the cabin of this prototype either.
Land Rover is playing hooky with us with the engine as well. It’s been eons since BMW power was suggested by the rumor mill, and so far, neither party has confirmed or denied a supply deal. Two culprits come to mind in the form of the N63 found in M550i models and the S63 used in the M5.
After Jaguar discontinued the XE S and XF S in the European Union over stricter WLTP emissions regulations, one has to wonder if Jaguar Land Rover is actually going to pull the plug on the AJ-V8 that dates back to 1996. The twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter engine from BMW isn’t exactly a spring chicken either, but then again, it’s more efficient than a 5.0-liter supercharged V8.
According to hearsay, Land Rover may offer two V8 options. The range-topping Defender is speculated to be called SVR, a suffix that Jaguar also utilizes for the most potent F-Pace out there. In this application, the AJ-V8 develops 542 horsepower (550 PS) and 516 pound-feet (700 Nm) of torque.
Previously spied with five doors and a long wheelbase, the V8 option will also be available with three doors and a short wheelbase. Caught by the carparazzi with camouflage from head to toe, the prototype in the photo gallery is a left-hand-drive model even though it flaunts GB license plates.
The brake calipers and rotors appear to be the same size as lesser versions of the Defender 90 and Defender 110, and the five-spoke wheels look somewhat underwhelming as well. Looking through the glasshouse, you’ll notice not much has changed in the cabin of this prototype either.
Land Rover is playing hooky with us with the engine as well. It’s been eons since BMW power was suggested by the rumor mill, and so far, neither party has confirmed or denied a supply deal. Two culprits come to mind in the form of the N63 found in M550i models and the S63 used in the M5.
After Jaguar discontinued the XE S and XF S in the European Union over stricter WLTP emissions regulations, one has to wonder if Jaguar Land Rover is actually going to pull the plug on the AJ-V8 that dates back to 1996. The twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter engine from BMW isn’t exactly a spring chicken either, but then again, it’s more efficient than a 5.0-liter supercharged V8.
According to hearsay, Land Rover may offer two V8 options. The range-topping Defender is speculated to be called SVR, a suffix that Jaguar also utilizes for the most potent F-Pace out there. In this application, the AJ-V8 develops 542 horsepower (550 PS) and 516 pound-feet (700 Nm) of torque.
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