£176,000 luxury Land Rover made in Coventry

LUXURY Land Rover Defenders produced in Coventry have now gone on sale, with prices starting from £176,000.

The limited edtion run of ARES Defenders is a partnership between Coventry engineering firm JE MotorWorks in partnership with leading Italian design house ARES Design. Car design specialist ARES, based in Modena, commissioned JE MotorWorks, which specialises in modifying Land Rover products, to help create and build 53 completely bespoke Defenders. The aim was to produce the kind of vehicle that might have been created by Jaguar Land Rover’s own Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division had the iconic Defender remained in production.

Production of the legendary off-roader, which got the Land Rover ball rolling, came to an end two years ago after almost 70 years.

JE MotorWorks, which is based in Siskin Drive near Coventry Airport, said the scale of the work commissioned to create the ARES Defender represents the most complete overhaul of the Defender yet.

ARES, founded by ex-Formula One senior manager and Ferrari commercial head Dany Bahar, commissioned JE to produce and install a 278bhp version of the Rover V8 mated to a 6-speed tiptronic gearbox, along with a specially-designed exhaust system, uprated driveshafts, differentials and two-inch lift suspension, winches, roof bars and sidesteps and exclusively-designed wheels.

ARES said due to the nature of coachbuilding and beskope requirements a pricing guide of £176,000 to £220,000 was indicative only.

After the vehicles have been engineered in Coventry thay go to ARES’ production facility in Modena for a complete aesthetic revamp.

The transformation sees the Defender Limited Edition turned into something that is completely unrecognisable from the original - featuring aluminium, carbon fibre, hand-crafted wood and the finest Italian leather.

At the heart of the ARES Defender is an upgraded engine, an extensively reworked Land Rover V8 that originally had a capacity of 4,552cc.

Thanks to an increase in bore size the powerplant displaces 4,748cc and develops 278bhp.

It also features a bespoke JE Motor Works exhaust manifold, a made to measure Milltek catalytic converter and exhaust system along with an ITG air intake.

Performance is significantly improved and requires engineering upgrades to the rest of the Defender.

The ride height is increased by 50mm and features special springs and shock absorbers, along with recalibrated anti-roll bars.

The ARES Defender is also fitted with a set of Coventry-made AP Racing brakes.

An exterior makeover includes wider Fond-metal alloy wheels, Cooper off-road tyres and bespoke wheel arch extensions made from carbon fibre.

There is also a carbon fibre bonnet and more powerful high-tech lights.

But it is on the inside that the biggest changes have been made,.

An ARES spokesman said: “Buyers of this type of bespoke vehicle demand an interior that ditches the utilitarian feel of the original, replacing it with a lavish magnificence that can only come from a thorough makeover.

“Yet at the same time there needs to be a nod towards practicality and for that reason carpet was deliberately eschewed in favour of stylish, yet modern chequer plate aluminium for the flooring of the ARES Defender, combined with swathes of the finest Italian leather, endowing the interior with the required sumptuousness. “Bespoke leatherclad Recaro seats offer supreme comfort yet hold occupants firmly in place while the feeling of luxury is further enhanced by a dashboard that has been transformed into one fit for a bespoke luxury offroader.

“A Webasto sunroof enhances the interior’s new-found luxury, allowing the occupants to be bathed in light while the leather interior roof-lining provides the final touch of opulence.

“The ARES Land Rover is the finest example of the bespoke Defender off-roader on the market today.”