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Lumma Design Widebody 2021 Land Rover Defender Looks Pretty Tacky

Made in Slovakia instead of the United Kingdom with a unitary construction instead of a ladder frame, the L663 polarizes opinion. But as far as the styling is concerned, we can all agree that Land Rover’s new Defender looks like a Defender. Some customers, however, want more visual pizazz that often translates to eyesores like this particular build.

CLR LD is how Lumma Design calls the “refinement program” in the photo gallery. The makeover starts with a selection of 19- to 23-inch wheels fitted with off-road, all-season, or summer-only performance tires. The rubber shoes are complemented by tack-on extensions for the wheel arches that are designed to fit the pumped-up side skirts and both of the bumpers.

Performance spacers highlight the double-spoke wheels, and this is where the good part of the visual package comes to a conclusion. The ugly part kicks off with a hood attachment with a fake grille, LUMMA CLR LD written in uppercase letters where DEFENDER used to be, and a front grille that looks eerily similar to the radiator in your bathroom. The front spoiler attachment, rear apron, and fender air vents are pretty questionable as well.

40 millimeters (1.6 inches) wider than stock, the spruced-up Defender also stands out with the help of tailpipe finishers a roof panel that integrates a couple of spotlights to emphasize the off-road character of the gentle giant. Lumma Design hasn’t published any photographs of the interior, but the aftermarket specialist from Winterlingen is much obliged to reupholster and retrim the cabin to your heart’s content as long as the price is right.

Because no CLR LD is the same, Lumma Design hasn’t mentioned any pricing info for the visual package or any individual item. To whom it may concern, a brand-new Defender starts at €52,500 euros in Germany where the tuner is based. Back home in the United Kingdom and over in the United States, make that £44,210 and $47,700 for the turbo four-cylinder 90 version.

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Article Credit: Mircea Panait
Full Article: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/lumma-design-widebody-2021-land-rover-defender-shows-off-tacky-makeover-160828.html



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Lifted Land Rover “Big Bertha” Defender Fits 35-Inch Wheels, Goes Where It Wants

Following the launch of the all-new Land Rover Defender last year, one of the main criticisms laid at the SUV’s feet was that it didn’t wasn’t as readily modifiable as the old model it shares its name with.

That idea was further supported by what happened with TFL’s second attempt to get their hands on a new Defender: after the first one’s engine died prematurely, the second one was deemed undeliverable after a vital cable harness was severed during the seemingly simple installation of a winch.

Meanwhile, the Internet is full of new Defenders modified to varying degrees, from the mild (mostly aesthetic) to the extreme (stuff that makes the vehicle more off-road capable). This almost-white P400 you’re about to see definitely falls into the latter category, featuring a cure to one of the vehicle’s greatest problems: its poor tire selection.

There are two things that limit the new Defender to a 33-inch tire, and they are the wheel size (no smaller than 19 inches for the six-cylinder engine) and the clearance in the wheel arch needed to fit 35s or larger. Now, the clever people at J Austen Fabrications have come up with a sub-frame lift kit that can bump the ground clearance by anything from two to six inches. The great thing about it is it doesn’t affect the vehicle’s original air suspension, allowing it to function as before, which means an extra inch and a half of lift is on the cards.

“Big Bertha”, the Land Rover Defender featured in the clip below, uses a two-inch lift from J Austen Fabrications as well as two-inch lift rods for a total gain of four inches. Then, it was time for “a bit of trimming” to make room for the 35s, a process that also required the relocation of some components. Finally, the brakes needed a bit of adjustment as well since the size of the rotors didn’t allow 18-inch wheels. With that taken care of as well – and the exhaust muffler removed too – Big Bertha was ready to take on the trails. The most difficult of them.

According to the owner, the total cost for this conversion is somewhere in the $14,000-15,000 range. That may not seem like much for a set of mods that will make the vehicle immensely more capable off-road, but when you consider how much the Defender – especially in the P400 trim – costs, it could bring the total cost to over $100,000. That’s a lot of money to put into something that’s supposed to go over razor-sharp rocks and narrow passages, putting it at constant risk of being damaged. But at least now you know that if you want a beefed-up Defender, you can have it.

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Article Credit: Vlad Mitrache
Full Article: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/lifted-land-rover-big-bertha-defender-fits-35-inch-wheels-goes-where-it-wants-159534.html#



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These Guys Will Build Your Dream Land Rover Defender

This is something special.

The Land Rover Defender has evolved from an all-conquering off-roader into a more sophisticated luxury product, and it’s new price matches its spiff. However, that unattractive sticker price has helped Land Rover turn its fortunes around. As the traditionally utilitarian vehicle has morphed into a designer accessory, it has now grabbed the attention of the well-heeled. Sure, there are some who will turn the Defender into a more capable vehicle that can do what it was originally intended for, but the real money lies in bespoke customization. That’s something that Heritage Customs, co-founded by Niels van Roij, is particularly adept at. And the options are endless.

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Designer Niels van Roij says that nothing is off-limits, and that any theme can be applied to the vehicle, even if it means a vehicle “symbolizing a Caribbean island.” As the above video explains quite well, the Heritage Customs process sets up clients with a custom build that suits their exact tastes. Heritage can also source an older Defender if you don’t already own the vehicle you want to enhance.

Once the vehicle is obtained, you can choose from numerous custom touches. As these photos show, Heritage is fantastic at fitting aftermarket body parts that look as good as the originals. And with multiple wheel and fascia upgrades available for various Defender models, making the exterior stand out from the crowd can be easily achieved.

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Even the paint can be of a totally unique shade that you can help co-develop with Heritage, while the cabin opens up a vast range of possibilities when it comes to materials. Different types of leather, denim, wool, or tweed can be used to trim your interior, and the cargo area can be finished in teak wood. Little details can be customized too, from fender vents and treadplates to copper accents. Once the Defender is complete, Heritage Customs tests it on a variety of surfaces to ensure quality. There’s no word on what the average build costs, but with so many options, it shouldn’t be difficult to imagine someone spending six figures designing their dream Defender.

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Article Credit: Sebastian Cenizo
Photo Credits: Heritage Custom
Full Article: https://carbuzz.com/news/these-guys-will-build-your-dream-land-rover-defender

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V8-Powered Land Rover Defender Spec 1.2 Is a Carbon-Clad Widebody Titan

Ares Design’s gifted auto specialists are no strangers to the aftermarket realm. Since the company’s relatively recent birth, the Italian craftsmen never failed to amaze gearheads with their fascinating works of mechanical art.

A few of Ares’ most notable undertakings have honored the autoevolution pages with their presence, including a bespoke Porsche 911 Turbo with 425 hp on tap and a Tesla Model S-based convertible masterpiece. As you examine these beasts, it’s fairly safe to conclude that Modena’s experts mean business.

Given the fact that we can’t seem to get enough of this firm’s surreal wizardry (and I’ll bet you feel the same), we’d say a closer look at their Land Rover Defender Spec 1.2 is a welcome feat. At the end of the day, transforming an undistinguished previous-gen Defender into a V8-powered monstrosity with eerie vibes is no walk in the park. In fact, I encourage you to sit down and take a deep breath because this bad boy will make you weak at the knees.

In Stock form, the SUV is brought to life by a 2.2-liter turbodiesel inline-four engine with four valves per cylinder head and a healthy compression ratio of 15.6:1. At about 3,500 rpm, the mill produces as much as 121 hp along with a respectable torque output of up to 266 pound-feet (361 Nm) at 2,000 revs. This oomph is distributed to all four wheels by means of a six-speed manual transmission, enabling the Defender to reach a top speed of 90 mph (145 kph).

Now that we’ve covered the standard vehicle’s main characteristics, let’s proceed with a thorough analysis of Ares Design’s leviathan. The very first thing you’ll notice is a sinister widebody kit that manages to look just about as rad as it gets. At the front, the new bodywork consists of a carbon fiber grille that doubles up as a headlight housing for the car’s new LED items, as well as a beefy hood with integrated air inlets.

On the flanks, we spot a set of muscular fender flares arching over the tuner’s rugged 18-inch five-spoke hoops. To add even more visual bulk, Italy’s pros went about installing a stealthy pair of tubular side steps in between. Furthermore, the colossus also received enlarged rear windows, a panoramic roof, and circular LED taillights to round out (no pun intended) the cosmetic pizzazz.

Inside, the cabin has been meticulously reupholstered with top-grade leather, but the use of premium materials doesn’t end there. An assortment of carbon fiber trimmings tastefully complements the new upholstery, while a state-of-the-art infotainment system supporting both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto adorns the dashboard. Ares’ high-tech goodness is concluded by an engine start-stop button, electric windows, and heated side mirrors hosting fresh turn signals.

Last but not least, the Defender’s humble 2.2-liter turbodiesel powerplant has been discarded in favor of a naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V8 behemoth producing no less than 282 wild ponies and 324 pound-feet (440 Nm) of twist. To ensure the additional force is handled with ease, the V8 predator has been coupled with a six-speed automatic gearbox. On the other hand, stopping power is taken good care of by six-piston calipers from AP Racing.

The finishing touch comes in the form of a suspension lift kit, which increases the SUV’s ground clearance by 1.4 inches (35 mm). Should you be looking to purchase your own Defender Spec 1.2, Ares Design claims that your order will be delivered in approximately three months. However, pricing information remains undisclosed at the time of this publication.

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Article Credit: Silvian Secara
Full Article: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/v8-powered-land-rover-defender-spec-12-is-a-carbon-clad-widebody-titan-158036.html#

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A Three-Row Land Rover Defender Is Coming Our Way

It will be called the 130, and it means business.

Land Rover has been making a great financial recovery in recent months, driven by popular models such as the Range Rover, but newer models such as the Defender have also proven themselves valuable: despite the high cost of some of its trim levels, the Defender has outsold the old model in America. Land Rover recently revealed that it is working on a pickup truck to rival the Ford Ranger, as well as a more affordable Defender 90, and now comes news that a three-row Defender 130 is in the works, and should go on sale within the next 18 months.

According to Land Rover Chief Financial Officer Adrian Mardell, the Defender 130 as it will be known will “hit a sweet spot in North America, China and also the Middle East, which we’re not yet touching.” An internal document shows that the Defender 130 will keep the same 119-inch wheelbase as the two-row Defender 110, but will stretch the total body length by 13 inches for a total of 201 inches. The three-row “premium explorer” as Land Rover calls it, joins an accomplished lineup that already includes a plug-in hybrid and supercharged V8 version, with the pickup truck hopefully following soon after.

As Land Rover slowly starts to assert itself in the American off-road market, Gerry McGovern, Land Rover’s head of design thinks that there is massive potential for the Defender brand: “looking at what we can do with that brand because with a relatively small investment we can increase its appeal. I’m absolutely convinced Defender will become a power brand in itself.” While Land Rover plots its next move, its sister company Jaguar is planning to go fully electric by 2025, but Land Rover doesn’t seem to share the same ideals yet, but we can expect to see more PHEVs in the near future. The arrival of a fully-electric Defender will truly signal that mankind has reached a new age of enlightenment.

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Article Credit: Michael Butler
Full Article: https://carbuzz.com/news/a-three-row-land-rover-defender-is-coming-our-way