Land Rover recently announced its V8-powered models as the most powerful Defender variants ever, but according to the latest rumours the British carmaker is working on an even more potent version.
MotorTrend reports that Land Rover is preparing to launch an SVR version of the Defender. While the obvious assumption is that it will use a more powerful version of JLR’s current 5,0-litre supercharged V8, as per the other SVR models, the US publication says there’s a good chance that the Defender SVR will be powered by a BMW engine through a previously announced alliance that looks set to include internal combustion as well as electric powertrains. According to MotorTrend, this will take the form of BMW’s 4,4-litre twin-turbo V8, which will likely be tuned to produce around 450 kW. This is a significant increase over the 386 kW offered by the current Defender V8.
Naturally, the Defender SVR will also receive a sportier exterior design package as well as modified suspension, MotorTrend reports, and the vehicle is expected to go on sale around the second quarter of 2022. While the idea of a Defender SVR might seem a bit ludicrous and unnecessary, the same could be said of the Mercedes-AMG G63, and look how well that’s selling. JLR is surely looking at the latter with more than a bit of envy.
But if the ‘regular’ V8 model is all the Defender you’ll ever need, you won’t have to wait long to get your hands on one. These models are due to hit South African showrooms later this year, with the Defender 90 V8 priced from R2 270 310 and the Defender 110 V8 starting at R2 343 910. Buyers can look forward to a more engaging Dynamic driving mode as well as impressive performance, with Land Rover claiming a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 5,2 seconds for the V8 models. The future SVR model will surely be aiming for a sub-five-second sprint time.
