The fastest and most powerful Land Rover DefenderV8 is now in South Africa! Take a look at what’s on offer below…

The South African Land Rover Defender range comprises petrol, diesel and plug-in derivatives, but the family just got a new powerful member in the form of a fire-breathing 5.0-litre supercharged V8 flagship.

We’ve already had extensive time behind the wheel of the Defender 110 and the new Defender 90 has just touched down.

What’s On Offer?

Land Rover South Africa will be introducing its V8-powered Defender in 4 flavours. There’ll be a V8-powered Land Rover Defender 90, a Defender 110 as well as two models badged as Carpathian Edition (in either 90 or 110 guise). This model issaid to be the “ultimate expression of Defender design, performance, and capability”. The Defender Carpathian Edition is finished in Carpathian Grey and is fitted with a contrasting Narvik Black roof,bonnet and rear door. Other distinguishing features include V8 Carpathian Edition badges, blue brake callipers and satin black tow eyes.

On the inside, the Defender V8’s seats are upholstered inMiko Suedecloth with Robustec accents while the steering wheel is clad in Alcantara. Customers can also opt for an Extended Black Pack which adds a glossblack finish for the front and rear skid plates, grille bar, bonnet finisher, badging, lower body cladding and wheel arches.

The Land Rover Defender flagship is also available with wireless device charging, which also features a signal booster for better connectivity. Speaking of connectivity, the Defender V8 is also available with an even bigger 11.4-inch touchscreen which is 60% bigger than the standard unit.

V8 Defender Engine

At the heart of the Land Rover Defender flagship model is the JLR 5.0-litre supercharged V8 which gets another lease on life. We know this engine is capable of big power, but it appears the Defender V8 is running a little conservative. That being said, 386 kW and 625 Nm in a Land Rover Defender is going to feel very quick.

Power goes to all 4 wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox and performance is brisk, with Land Rover claiming this is the quickest Defender to date. 0-100 kph is dispatched in a claimed 5.2 seconds for the Defender 90 and it’ll run to a top speed of 240 kph. The bigger Defender 110 is fractionally slower with a sprint time of 5.4 seconds.With all that additional performance, the Land Rover Defender has receiveda unique suspension and transmission tuning, as well as spring and damper rates plus a new electronic active rear differential. In addition, the Defender V8 features a Dynamic program in Terrain Response 2 to fully exploit the vehicles dynamic ability.

How much does the Land Rover Defender V8 cost in South Africa?

Land Rover Defender90 V8 R2 359300

Land Rover Defender110 V8 R2 432 900

Land Rover Defender90 V8 Carpathian Edition R2 454 700

Land Rover Defender110 V8 Carpathian Edition R2 528 300

The Land Rover Defender V8 is sold with a 5-year/100 000km warranty and maintenance plan.

Further Reading

Comparison: Land Rover Defender vs Toyota Prado

Land Rover Defender (2020) Specs & Price

Land Rover Defender 90 (2021) Specs & Price in SA