Land Rover Another year, another £225,000 Defender

Overland travel the inspiration for Land Rover’s £225,000 Defender Works V8

LAND ROVER’S DEFENDER

WORKS V8 TROPHY was a sell-out, despite being priced well into the stratosphere. So here’s the Defender Works V8 Trophy II.

Last time, the inspiration for the vehicle’s design came from the Camel Trophy. This time, it’s the Defender’s status as an iconic image of overland travel.

Specifi cally, the limited run of just 25 vehicles will be fi nished in a unique camoufl age design featuring 23 locations from signifi cant expeditions in Land Rover’s storied history of global exploration and adventure. The design also has silhouettes of Defenders and Series vehicles hidden within it, just in case anyone’s wondering what it is they’re looking at.

As you’d expect, perhaps slightly wearily, the vehicles’ original Puma engines have been replaced by Land Rover’s 5.0-litre V8, giving them 405bhp at 6000rpm and 380lbf.ft at 5000rpm. Top torque halfway to fi ve fi gures, how very Defender. Fuel consumption and emissions fi gures are not quoted, but if you’re in the market for one of these you don’t care in the slightest.

The engine is mated to the now equally familiar eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. This does still drive all four wheels (we felt if might be relevant to confi rm this) and in case that’s not enough, the vehicles come with a winch. Other off-road kit includes a full-width LED light bar, rock sliders, exo roll cage and rear recovery point.

The run of 25 vehicles will include 20 Station Wagons, split equally between the 90 and 110, and fi ve 110 Double-Cabs. Prices? From £225,000. From, mind.

That cheeky little sum gets you a vehicle that’s been rebuilt in the SVO workshop and equipped inside with two-tone Windsor leather on the dashboard, trim and two-tone Recaro sports seats, as well as Land Rover’s Classic infotainment system and an Elliot Brown clock face. We hadn’t either, no, but the same company is getting its share of bunce from the deal by marketing a limited-edition watch inspired by the Works V8 Trophy II. It’s also making a special Competitor’s Edition watch exclusively for the 25 customers who buy the vehicle.

Competitors? Yes. Sort of. Buy one of these bad boys and you’ll get a personal invite to take part in Land Rover Classic’s second specially devised three-day Trophy event. ‘Customers will create lasting memories and get acquainted with their vehicles in the most amazing way possible,’ says Land Rover. Before putting them into heated storage along with their limited-edition Astons and Ferraris and selling them to other millionaires at a huge profi t ten years from now, the cynic inside us is trying not to say.