Few design teams would dare take on the challenge of replacing the ageing but beloved Defender. It had carved out a unique niche, worshipped by die-hard off-roaders yet increasingly lusted after by a crowd who’d never take it further than a gravel driveway.
But no one expected Land Rover to go this far. A range of petrol, diesel, and hybrid options? Predictable. Maybe even an all-electric version down the line? Sensible. Instead, after the initial success, Land Rover did the unthinkable: they shoehorned their 5.0-litre supercharged V8 into the all-new Defender. An icon, reborn, with an added snarl.
Most Land Rover products have a diligent aftermarket community following, with tuning and styling houses across the globe each applying their unique touch to Solihull’s finest. Today, amongst the likes of Overfinch and Kahn, one brand stands proudly as the symbol of success. If you want to make your Land Rover louder, more aggressive and more unique, head to Urban Automotive.
This particular car is a 2022 Land Rover Defender 90, fitted with that all important supercharged V8. Externally, the car is finished in Santorini Black, but that’s about the only standard aspect of the exterior.
The car was sent to Urban who supplied and fitted an assortment of exterior upgrades;
Widetrack Arches
Lower canards
Best of British Top & Side Vents
Black Shadow Chequer Style Side Steps
Roof lighting bar with Linear 6 Lazer lights
Rear spoiler
Spare wheel cover
On top of those styling tweaks are a set of Urban’s 22” WX2 alloy wheels, wrapped in a set of Continental Cross Contact tyres. Tucked behind them are a set of red Urban logo’d brake calipers, which tie in nicely with a collection of red Urban badging throughout the exterior. All combined it makes for an aggressive and imposing package, fit to match the power plant hidden beneath. The registration "V9 URB" is also included in the sale.
The interior is typical of modern Land Rover, it’s in an incredibly nice place to be. Leather and Alcantara dominate the materials, offering a more rugged feel than just pure leather. The steering wheel is wrapped in Alcantara too. It’s got all the amenities you’d expect, apple car play, electric seats and the Meridian sound system.
Under the bonnet is the aforementioned V8. The 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 AJ133 engine is shared across the Land Rover and Jaguar range. 518 bhp will hustle the Defender 90 to 60 mph in less than 4.5 seconds. To put that in perspective, an E92 BMW M3, which also employs a V8 engine, manages the dash just 0.1 seconds faster. It’s a feat that frankly defies the laws of physics.
All of this power is combined with predictable off-road prowess. If there is a hill, the Defender can climb it but unlike its historic namesake, the new Defender does it with comfort too. Despite being just 3 years old, and having covered less than 20,000 miles, this Defender retains a full Land Rover service history.
06/2024 - Yearly Service at Beadles Land Rover, Watford - 8,864 miles
07/2023 - Yearly Service at Beadles Land Rover, Watford - 3,734 miles
03/2022: Pre-Delivery Inspection at Inchcape Jaguar, Guilford - 7 Miles
The new Defender is as comfortable on-road as it is off-road, whether that be cruising along a motorway, or down a greenlane. Though with the addition of the Urban styling tweaks, we’d argue that this Defender is best suited for hunting its prey through the city streets.
As with all our vehicles, a full digital folder is available on request containing more images, walk-around videos, and scans of the service history. The car can also be viewed by appointment at our West London showroom.