NEWS ARES Design Defender
Ares Design give the outgoing Defender a makeover with a range that includes a supercharged V8 engine
WORKING IN conjunction with JE Motorworks ARES will build 53 examples of its Defender. At the heart of their creation will be an extensively reworked Land Rover V8 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Thanks to an increase in bore size, the engine now displaces 4748cc and develops 282 bhp and 325 lb-ft of torque. There is also a supercharged version based on a displacement of 4698 cc and has a whopping 475 bhp (torque TBD).
To accompany the ARES Defender’s imposing looks – created in part thanks to its new heavy-duty bumpers, side steps, wider Fondmetal alloy wheels, carbon wheel arch extensions and bonnet and LED lights – its ride height has increased by 50 mm. This is thanks to a set of bespoke JE Motorworks springs, which when combined with Fox shocks and revised anti-roll bars is said to improve off-road capability, while a big brake kit from AP Racing helps to reign in the extra power.
Inside ARES’ designers have really shown their eye for detail in a luxury transformation that consists of chequer plate aluminium flooring, Recaro seats and handcrafted panels in leather, carbon and aluminium.
Quoted to be the “finest example of the bespoke Defender off-roader on the market today”, the ARES Design models also come at a price – from between 200,000 and 250,000 euros, which begs the question, is anyone going to attempt a sensibly-priced improved version of the Defender?