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Supercharged 1993 Land Rover Defender Has A 600-HP Heart

It’ll make new Defender drivers envious.

From the outside, it looks like a pristine yet clearly older version of the Land Rover, but the SUV you see here is so much more than that. Some of our favorite restomods and custom cars are those which combine classic looks with modern underpinnings, and that’s exactly what Osprey Custom Cars have done with this 1993 Land Rover Defender 110. Osprey previously shoved a Corvette engine into a restored Defender 110, and the white example here also gets a notable power boost of its own.

Under the hood is a supercharged 6.2-liter LSA V8 with around 600 horsepower and 580 lb-ft of torque. The V8 is paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox. The modifications beneath the skin didn’t end there, of course, as the Landy also boasts a heavy-duty transfer case, heavy-duty front/rear axles, and a galvanized chassis that has been powder-coated in gloss black. Along with MD Terra Firma springs and four-wheel power disc brakes, this Defender is ready to perform both on- and off-road. We wouldn’t want to risk scratching that paintwork, though.

Finished in Land Rover Alaskan White contrasted with a hood and roof in Stornoway Gray, it has a charmingly retro aura about it that can’t be matched by the brand new Defender. It’s just as appealing as Osprey’s 1986 Defender. The Cooper tires are wrapped around 18-inch Sterling rims in a two-tone black/silver combination.

Inside, there is far more luxury on offer than you would have gotten in an original 1993 Defender. There are classy Charcoal leather seats, with both front chairs being heated, along with an Alcantara headliner in the same color.

A seven-inch touchscreen interface brings this Landy in line with other modern SUVs, as does the wireless charging pad and dual USB charging ports. All of that isn’t even an exhaustive list of all the extras that this Defender comes with.

“This truck looks great at the country club or off-road,” said Aaron Richardet, the founder and managing director of Osprey. “It will surprise a lot [of] sports car drivers from a stoplight.”

It’ll surprise your financial manager, too, because this epic Defender’s asking price is $229,950. You could buy more than four brand new Defenders for that price. Then again, there’s nothing else out there quite like Osprey’s creation.

Article Credit: Karl Furlong
Photo Credits: Osprey Custom Cars
Full Article: https://carbuzz.com/news/supercharged-1993-land-rover-defender-has-a-600-hp-heart

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Land Rover Defender Upgraded With 650-HP Camaro ZL1 Engine

0-62 mph in this custom off-roader takes just 5.9 seconds.

Florida-based ECD Automotive Design produces some of the best handcrafted Land Rover Defender rebuilds on the market. Back in the summer, the US specialist teamed up with Electric Classic Cars to build the first Tesla-powered Land Rover in the world. Now, ECD has unveiled its latest Defender project, boasting unique styling and higher performance.

Dubbed Project Langeti, the custom Land Rover Defender is finished in utilitarian Keswick Green with Nara Bronze accents. This camo coloring makes the custom off-roader look far more rugged than the new Land Rover Defender. Its performance is also on another level.

Under the hood, you’ll find a supercharged LT4 paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission – the same engine that powers the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 producing 650 horsepower and 630 lb-ft of torque. This enables the custom off-roader to accelerate from 0-62 mph in just 5.9 seconds, giving the Defender sports car levels of performance. Upgraded Brembo brakes with custom Nara Bronze calipers also provide more substantial stopping power for the high-performance off-roader.

Other modifications include air ride suspension and 18-inch wheels also finished in Nara Bronze for a smoother ride. A Nara Bronze roof, rear ladder, and a sport exhaust system with black dual exhaust tips add to the utilitarian theme.

A Kahn Design bumper, classic swing away wheel carrier, and mesh grille finished in Nara Bronze help Project Langeti stand out in the crowded Defender restomod scene. “Every detail has been considered on this build. Langeti is a truly stunning example of the new ECD Signature build range and I believe one of the best Defenders available worldwide,” said the company’s co-founder Tom Humble.

Inside, the interior matches the exterior color theme with chocolate brown leather applied to the front Recaro Orthoped seats and throughout the cabin. Retro touches such as the simple stitch design, and wood-rim steering wheel combine with modern upgrades such as a new sound system, back-up camera, blind-spot assistance, keyless entry, and power locks and windows.

PHOTO GALLERY

Article Credit: Martin Bigg
Photo Credits: ECD Automotive Design
Full Article: https://carbuzz.com/news/land-rover-defender-upgraded-with-650-hp-camaro-zl1-engine

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Jeremy Clarkson Reviews 2020 Land Rover Defender, Prefers the Ford Ranger Raptor

When Land Rover approached Jeremy Clarkson to review the all-new Defender, the 60-year-old journalist and presenter was determined to dislike the luxurious SUV with unibody construction. But as it often happens to J.C., his assumption was eventually turned upside down.

Writing for The Sunday Times, the tallest of the three amigos on The Grand Tour“was never a fan of the old Defender.” Jeremy Clarkson isn’t particularly smitten by the die-hard fans who prefer the body-on-frame model and the Land Rover Series, and I totally see where he’s coming from.

Take, for instance, the Wrangler. Over the course of four generations, Jeep didn’t change the essentials, but did improve the breed in ways that actually make sense. A more comfortable driving position, better steering, improved ride quality, even a plug-in hybrid; Jeep did all that but didn’t dare switch from a body-on-frame 4×4 to a luxed-up sport utility vehicle.

Land Rover, by comparison, abandoned the good ol’ ladder frame even though it wasn’t necessary. Even Ford tapped into the Wrangler’s segment with the pickup truck-based Bronco because there’s a lot of money to be made in this market. As for the all-new Defender, well, Richard Hammond believes that Land Rover should’ve named it Discovery and call it a day.

Turning our attention back to Clarkson, he’s most impressed by the interior, technological trickery, and off-road capability of the short-wheelbase model he reviewed. The “pointlessly visible screw heads” on the door cards are not to his liking, and the price tag left him baffled at 62,000 pounds sterling. A well-equipped spec with a six-pot engine soars past 80,000 pounds sterling, and that’s a big no-no because it’s full-size Range Rover territory.

“Excuse me, but if I want a vehicle to cart around bales of straw and sheep — and I do, by the way — why would I spend £50,000-plus on a Defender?” Clarkson further wrote for The Sunday Driving Times that his tester was bonging hysterically at him when maneuvering near blades of grass, and I’m pretty lost for words about that. An off-roader is scared of grass, really?

Two more problems Jeremy has highlighted are the wind noise on the motorway and “the sort of constant diagonal pitching motion.” The verdict? Well, J.C. likes the brand-new Defender, but he “can’t see the point of it.”

He says the Range Rover is a much better alternative for well-to-do people who commute every weekend to a nice estate in the British countryside, though surprisingly enough, Jeremy Clarkson would pick a very different type of vehicle to call his own. Instead of the Defender, J.C. would rather have the “cheaper, more tax-efficient, and more practical Ford Ranger Raptor.”

PHOTO GALLERY

Article Credit: Mircea Panait
Full Article: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/jeremy-clarkson-reviews-2020-land-rover-defender-prefers-the-ford-ranger-raptor-152435.html

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Tiff Needell Reviews 2020 Land Rover Defender On and Off the Road

After Richard Hammond had a go in the all-new Defender, Tiff Needell is much obliged to give his thoughts on that very same Defender. Seriously, just check the license plates! But as opposed to Richard’s criticism, Tiff defends the unibody sport utility vehicle for an understandable reason.

Speaking of body-on-frame models of old, our protagonist remembers how much he hated driving the Defender on the road for “more than a dozen or so miles.” Land Rover Defenders from that era definitely aren’t luxurious, and the ride quality isn’t comparable to the air suspension of the newcomer.

Once in the driver’s seat, Needell can’t escape the feeling that he’s in something different from the previous generation of the Defender and the Land Rover Series from days long gone. The heritage design elements such as the exposed screw heads and chunky grab handles “are just token gestures,” though. Make no mistake about it, “this car is all about luxury.”

As far as the driving experience is concerned, “this is nothing like the Defender of old. This is an enjoyable family SUV.” Right after that line, Tiff corrects himself by adding “sorry Land Rover, four by four.” Reading between the lines, the people behind the Defender wanted the Defender to appeal to a much wider audience than the body-on-frame model. Given the high starting price of the newcomer, profit margins had a huge say as well.

At 43,625 pounds sterling for the short-wheelbase version with the mild-hybrid and twin-turbo diesel Ingenium engine, there’s no denying Land Rover is gunning for different customers. Compare that price to 23,100 pounds sterling for the body-on-frame Defender in 2016, and you can clearly tell how much has changed in such a short amount of time. But does it surprise you? Lest we forget, demand for SUVs is at an all-time high.

Tiff also takes the newcomer off-road, worrying about the fancy wheels, but the Landie does a good job in this scenario without breaking a sweat. As for the verdict, Mr. Needell gives the Defender his blessing.

Still, something’s been bugging me about the whole review. As one YouTuber puts it in the comments section, “is this a car review or an advertorial?”

Article Credit: Mircea Panait
Full Article: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/tiff-needell-reviews-2020-land-rover-defender-on-and-off-the-road-152379.html#

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What Does Richard Hammond Think Of The New Land Rover Defender?

The Grand Tour’s Richard Hammond is a big fan of the original Land Rover Defender, but is he as fond of the new one?

In typical Drivetribe fashion, this isn’t an ordinary review and instead revolves around the British journalist driving to the countryside to take his dog for a walk. Yes, really.

The example tested by Hammond was the Defender 110 D240 that features a turbodiesel 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder producing 237 hp. Given the size and weight of the new Defender, it comes as no surprise that it isn’t particularly quick.

Approximately halfway through the video, Hammond showcases his first-generation Defender that he has been in the process of restoring for the last decade. It’s a very special thing and, while the new Defender is much more capable than the original and loaded with the latest technologies and luxuries, is it actually as good as its predecessor?

Hammond doesn’t seem to be all that fond of the new Defender and towards the end of his review, after taking his dog for a walk, says that this isn’t really a Defender and should be badged as a Discovery.

While the new Defender has certainly ruffled a few feathers among the most faithful of Land Rover enthusiasts, we do expect it to sell in relatively high numbers. Sales will no doubt spike following the automaker’s recent decision to drop the four-cylinder turbodiesel engine that Hammond tested in favor of a new Ingenium six-cylinder diesel sold in D300 guise with 296 hp and 479 lb-ft (650 Nm) of torque.

VIDEO

Article Credit: Brad Anderson
Full Article: https://www.carscoops.com/2020/11/what-does-richard-hammond-think-of-the-new-land-rover-defender/