Landrover Defender v8

FIRST DRIVE New life breathed into 4x4 legend

THE Land Rover Defender is back – but before you get excited and start waving your Union flag with patriotic fervour, it’s not quite as simple as that.

To celebrate Land Rover’s 70th birthday, the brand has launched a run of limited-edition Works Defenders. A series of late-2015/2016 cars has been acquired for a last hurrah – each vehicle taken apart piece by piece at JLR Classic’s facility in Ryton, Warwickshire.

Classic has squashed in a Range Rover’s 5.0 petrol V8. Despite losing that car’s supercharger, the 400bhp Works Defender is a far cry from the 2.2 diesels that last left Solihull two years ago.

To cope with the power, the car has been heavily tweaked. There’s an eightspeed auto with a Jaguar F-type ‘trigger’ gearlever, beefier brakes and a handling kit with new springs, dampers and antiroll bars. Inside is a leather-covered dash, heated Recaro bucket seats and a tiny infotainment screen. The ergonomics are still typically compromised, however.

Twist the key and the V8 burbles into life. Tug the gearlever and the Works feels like no other Defender. Changes are smooth, and the result is a hugely fast car; the top speed is limited to 106mph, but only due to modest tyre ratings.

The biggest transformation is the ride. This Defender swallows potholes and bumps rather than clattering over them. The woolly steering is better than before, and the 4x4 is more stable under hard braking. It still sways if you take a corner too quickly, mind.

The Works V8 is still a chore to drive, however. Its awful seating position perches you so high you feel exposed. But even a re-engineered Defender like this couldn’t (and shouldn’t) change its inherent character.