So, factory Defender TdV8?

[Bill]

Given the Defender's being legislated out of existence (in it's current form at least) what are the chances of LR sending it out with in a blaze of glory with the TdV8 engine from the RR?

And who'd join me in the queue?

[Dave^]

Has it been done outside of LRs grasp?

All I can find is:

http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?s=69d06a383adf59...

...and a TDV6 Defender (at the bottom of the page):

http://www.bellautoservices.co.uk/index.php?page=n...

[sherman]

Is it not more likely to get the 5l petrol engine from jaguar with a supercharger or turbo bolted on it?

Edited by sherman on Thursday 6th May 15:44

[Bill]

Dave^ said:

Has it been done outside of LRs grasp?

Certainly the TdV6 has. But given LRs tendency to use the RV8 in the past, and the new eco-conscience they're (pretending) to develop I'm hoping the combination of a V8 that's diesel will be tempting.

sherman said:

Is it not more likely to get the 5l petrol engine from jaguar with a supercharger or turbo bolted on it?

Quite possibly, but I'm hoping the relative economy of the TdV8 will prevail.

Edited by Bill on Thursday 6th May 15:49

[Bish]

JE have put the 4.2 Supercharged into the Defender..........with 460bhp!

They are also doing a celebration of their 35th Anniversary and have dropped the 4.4 V8 in mated to an Auto box and with LPG. I think this would be a the one to have.........the 4.2 is just too powerful for the poor old chassis to cope with.

[300bhp/ton]

Bill said:

Given the Defender's being legislated out of existence (in it's current form at least) what are the chances of LR sending it out with in a blaze of glory with the TdV8 engine from the RR?

And who'd join me in the queue?

Sadly no chance. The axles and diffs wouldn’t be strong enough. Also LR ruled out using the TDV6 in the Defender claiming it didn’t fit the engine bay (which it does), so would be most surprised to see the larger TDV8 finding a home in there from the factory.

What LR should have done is updated the Defender like Jeep did with the Wrangler. They should have nicked some descent axles off of Ford or switched to Dana 44’s or something. Along with a hydroformed chassis as per the F150 pickup truck.

And for the past 10-12 years they should have been fitting the Jaguar AJV8 in 3.5 litre form to the Defender and then the 2.7 TDV6. If they’d have done this it probably would have sold really well worldwide and still be upto date today mostly, as the hydroformed chassis could easily have incorporated crumple zones and such.

[Bill]

300bhp/ton said:

Also LR ruled out using the TDV6 in the Defender claiming it didn’t fit the engine bay (which it does)

I didn't know that. Arse.