2021 Land Rover Defender: Now with Range Rover V8 power

A V8-powered Defender sure sounds great. Land Rover thought the same, so they brought back the original Defender and dropped a V8 engine in it. Dubbed the Defender Works V8 trophy, it was a limited-run model with only 25 units were built globally. Now, the British marque is offering customers a chance to own a V8-powered Defender once more. But this time around, it's with the current-generation body.

Called the Defender V8, it sits as the new range-topping variant of the Defender family and is available for both the two-door 90 and the four-door 110 models. Under the hood, it uses a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 that produces 525 horsepower and 625 Nm of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox. With this setup, the Defender V8 90 can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, and the top speed is 240 km/h.

To handle the added power and torque, Land Rover also re-tuned the Defender V8’s suspension. It features thicker anti-roll bars, and the electronic rear differential is fitted with a yaw controller. For better handling on the streets, the British marque added a Dynamic driving setting for the Terrain Response system improving throttle response.

Styling-wise, the V8-powered Defender looks the same as a standard Defender, sans the various off-road packages. The only way to identify the V8 model is through the larger Xenon Blue brake calipers, quad exhaust pipes, and 22-inch wheels. Body colors are also limited to Carpathian Grey, Yulong White, and Santorini Black.

Inside, it’s the same story as the exterior. However, Land Rover offers the model with an Ebony Windsor Leather upholstery with Miko Suedecloth and Robustec accents. A 10-inch infotainment system comes standard, but the 11.4-inch Pivi Pro infotainment system is available as an option. The larger infotainment system is also available on other Defender variants. Wireless charging now comes standard across the range.

Want a more aggressive look for your V8-powered Defender? Customers can upgrade to the Defender V8 Carpathian Edition for a meaner look with a matte black and gray finish.

The Defender V8 starts at GBP 98,505 (PHP 6.79 million before taxes) for the 90 and GBP 101,150 (PHP 6.95 million, also before taxes) for the 110. Yes, it’s expensive especially compared to the diesel and inline-6 powered Defenders. But hey, at least you can say this one has a V8.