The Defender we know and love may be gone, but that doesn’t mean that JLR is entirely done with it just yet. For those aficionados who prefer to go anywhere, Land Rover Classic has this: a series of new Upgrade Kits. The range of add-ons is aimed at older Defender models, and looks to deliver “enhanced performance and on-road agility, inspired by the exclusive limited-edition Defender Works V8 – 70th Edition.”
So what can you get? Well, if your Defender isn’t a 90 or 110 derivative built between 1994 and 2016, then look away now, because the answer is nothing. For the rest of you, read on.
The most widely available upgrade comes in the form of diamond-turned 18-inch ‘Sawtooth’ alloy wheels, which can be fitted to Defenders built from April 30th 1993 - the 1994 model year - onwards. The rims can be fitted to earlier examples, but Land Rover says those models may require later-specification wheel studs. The company will charge you £2,160 for the privilege of buying five Sawteeth to fit yourself, or £4,068 for a set of rims fully fitted by Land Rover Classic and equipped with “performance-rated tyres”.
Next come a brace of more substantial improvements aimed at on-road performance. The Defender Suspension Upgrade Kit can be fitted to 2007 model year vehicles, and comprises “uniquely-tuned suspension tailored for on-road comfort and dynamics” with revised coil spring rates, dampers, anti-roll bars, links and bushes. For the parts only it’ll cost £2,247 for Defender 90s and £1,822.97 for 110s, with Land Rover dealers able to fit it at an additional cost.
Seperate to that is the Defender Handling Upgrade Kit, which adds the uprated brake discs, pads and calipers from the Works V8, plus the 18-inch Sawtooth alloy wheels and enhanced suspension. It stands at £10,391 for the 90 and £9,967 for the 110, again excluding the cost of fitting.
The final and most comprehensive raft of upgrades is only available on more modern vehicles, those being 2.2-litre TDCi models manufactured from the 2012 model year onwards. The Defender Classic Works Upgrade Kit includes all of the wheel, brake and suspension elements previously mentioned, in addition to the performance-rated tyres and an engine upgrade which delivers an extra 40hp. Total output is thereby increased to 162hp and 342lb ft of torque, with top speed stretched to 106mph.
With bespoke badges on the front wings, vehicle collection, a health check and a handover with a tour of Land Rover’s Classic Works - either in the UK, or Essen, where the upgrade is actually carried-out - plus an owner’s certificate, this is very much the whole shebang. As such, it’ll set you back £16,995 regardless of whether you have a 90 or a 110, and that price includes fitting by Land Rover Classic in UK.
Land Rover says that all of the components involved have been “fully assessed to the same standards as Works V8 in dynamic testing, with engineers meeting the same fast road and braking targets for Upgrade Kit components as last year’s limited-run model.”
Calum McKechnie, Head of Land Rover Classic, added: “In 2018, Land Rover’s 70th Anniversary year, we saw unprecedented demand for the limited-edition Defender Works V8, which brought new levels of handling and performance to this iconic vehicle. Extending the range of fully engineered, tested and approved upgrades offered by Land Rover Classic underlines our commitment to supporting existing Defender owners, as we look forward to the new Defender’s world premiere later this year.”
Plenty to consider if you mainly enjoy your Defender on- rather than off-road, then. And if you don’t have a car to put them on, then the PH classifieds has over 100 cars eligible for the Classic Works Upgrade to pick from. Or, of course, you could get the real deal and buy one of the actual Works V8 machines; a snip at - wait for it - £200,000.
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