Industry news

Land Rover Classics Release Upgrades That Take The Defender To The Next Level

We’ve been waiting for the new Land Rover Defender to show its face for what feels like years. So to maintain this feeling of need for the new British off-roader, Land Rover Classic is releasing upgrades for the original 90 and 110 models.

These upgrades, inspired by the blacked out Defenders you can often find trawling the streets of the capital city, will cover modifications to the suspension, wheels, brakes, and engine, with the resulting car being faster and sharper.

The wheels, named Sawtooths, start at the lofty price of £432 each. Replacing each one, including the spare at the rear, will in total run you a bill of £2,160. With an 18-inch size they certainly add a modern twist on the boxy chassis, however only Defenders made after ’94 can have them fitted.

For models made after ’07, a ‘uniquely tuned’ suspension upgrade can be fitted to improve road comfort and dynamics. These new dampers, anti-roll bars, links and bushes and alered coil spring rates will set you back £1,823 for the Defender 110. If you’re the proud over of a 90 model, though, you’re looking at an extra £424 – plus fitting.

If at the moment you’re nodding while looking smugly at your own Defender outside, you may be interested in a further brake upgrade package. Everything above, plus upgraded rotors, callipers and discs will see you £9967 for a 110 and £10,391 for a 90.

Now the power upgrades, the bit you’ve been waiting for. The Classic Works Upgrade Kit, the full shabang, will add 40bhp to your 2.2-litre TDCi Defender if it’s built after 2012. It needs to be bought from and fitted by Land Rover Classic, but will increase overall power to 160bhp – a power level many owners will find more fulfilling.

With this package, top speed will climb to 106mph, and Land Rover will commend you with a couple of fancy badges and a certificate for your trouble (and money, which comes to £16,995).

I’m of the thinking that if Land Rover were to simply take these modifications and offer it as the new Defender, customers would be more than happy. But until the release of the new long-awaited 4×4, a 16k pricetag on an old farm vehicle will have to do.

Alex Harrington

Alex started racing at a young age so certainly knows his way around a car and a track. He can just about put a sentence together too, which helps. He has a great interest in the latest models, but would throw all of his money at a rusty old French classic and a 300ZX. Contact: [email protected]

Related Articles

Back to top button