Land Rover Has 2 New V8 Defenders Coming, Report Says

A new report details some exciting new additions to the Land Rover Defender lineup.

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Published November 5, 2020

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Updated October 19, 2022

The new Land Rover Defender is not the old school rig that many purists would prefer — but as it starts to trickle out into showrooms and driveways after some pandemic-related delays, all signs point to it being a competitive vehicle in the American market, unlike its storied predecessor.

Because Land Rover is probably going to sell a bunch of new Defenders, it would be natural for them to flesh out the product offerings a bit more. A new Motor Trend report details some exciting reported developments on the engine and bodystyle front.

Not one, but two V8-powered Defender are reportedly on the way

According to the report, Land Rover has not one but two V8 versions of the Defender planned for the U.S. They would be different tunings of the same engine, with the higher output edition reportedly carrying Land Rover’s SV badging. Even more excitingly, you will allegedly be able to get the V8 in the smaller Defender 90.

The big question for now is, where will Land Rover get the engine from if they shelve the 5.0-liter V8? BMW is a possibility, as we’ve heard from MT and elsewhere.

There may be a bigger Defender 130 coming, as well

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Motor Trend also says, as expected, that Land Rover will revive the larger Defender 130 to compete with the likes of the Cadillac Escalade and Jeep Grand Wagoneer in the lucrative three-row luxury SUV segment.

Unlike the previous Defender 130, the new version will allegedly use the same wheelbase as the Defender 110 — which is 119 inches, for the record. That would mean the stretched body would offer more third-row and cargo space.