Land Rover Defender SUV gets revised engine lineup
The top-of-the-line Defender Octa modification has had its V8 biturbo engine power significantly reduced due to the need to comply with modern emission standards. Prices for the updated model are known.
Land Rover produced the classic SUV from 1948 to 2016, with the Defender name only being assigned to it in 1991. The era of the legendary “Defenders” ended in the last decade, but the manufacturer decided to pass the name familiar to brand fans to another model – the SUV with indices 90 and 110 (L663 series), which debuted in 2020. Later, in 2022, the extended Defender 130 joined them, and in 2024 the lineup was expanded with a top-tier modification – the Land Rover Defender Octa.
Now the British brand has announced the refreshed Defender for the 2027 model year. The “crown jewel” of the family, the SUV with the Octa suffix in its name, has had matte white Patagonia White and green Woolston Green added to its body color palette. Additionally, the model now offers a new glossy protective coating with “self-healing” technology, which can eliminate micro-scratches and provides protection against chips.
The main “update” will not please enthusiasts: the company had to reduce the SUV’s power due to the need to comply with modern emission standards. The 4.4-liter V8 biturbo gasoline engine, operating as part of a mild hybrid system, now produces 540 hp, which is 95 “horses” less compared to the Land Rover Defender Octa of the 2026 model year.
At the same time, the maximum torque remains the same at 750 Nm. The engine is still paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The time required for the SUV to accelerate from standstill to 100 km/h has increased – now it takes 4.2 seconds (0.2 seconds more). The developers also modernized the exhaust system, which led to a change in the sound of the V8 engine.
In addition, the Land Rover Defender lineup for the 2027 model year has been expanded with the Vertex version (available in all three body styles). The trim differs with different bumpers, new fog lights, an enlarged radiator grille, lower side sections and sills painted in body color, and a spoiler at the top of the rear. The Defender Vertex comes with either 20- or 22-inch wheels.
The interior can be upholstered either in leather (two color options available) or in custom-made fabric, and carbon-look decorative elements have been added to the interior. Additionally, the Defender 110 is now available with a six-seat cabin layout, with two captain’s chairs installed in the middle row.
There are also changes in the engine lineup: the Defender for the 2027 model year will be offered with a 5.0-liter gasoline V8 only in certain markets (the UK is not included). The lineup now includes the P380 variant with an MHEV setup based on a 3.0-liter six-cylinder gasoline engine (maximum power – 379 hp, torque – 550 Nm). The SUV retains the 3.0-liter six-cylinder diesel and gasoline engines, as well as a plug-in hybrid system with a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder.
All versions of the Land Rover Defender for the 2027 model year are already available for order on the domestic market. The starting version is priced at £58,655 (equivalent to approximately 5.97 million rubles at the current exchange rate), purchasing the Vertex variant will cost at least £92,635 (about 9.44 million rubles). The price of the refreshed Defender Octa starts at £147,245 (about 15 million rubles), while the Octa Black will cost £157,245 (about 16 million rubles). Deliveries to dealers are scheduled to begin in the fall.
