Land Rover Defender SVR spied

Those crying out for a faster, more powerful Land Rover Defender will soon have their wish granted as Land Rover completes the Defender SVR’s final tests ahead of its reveal later this year. Engineered by JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations the Defender SVR will feature one of the last iterations of Jaguar Land Rover’s supercharged V8 engine, with an expected 600+bhp figure making it the most powerful Defender ever.

Defined by a wider body due to its enlarged wheel arches, it accommodates an increase in brake, wheel and tyre sizes. The Defender SVR will retain its core off-road capabilities but also benefit from a road and track development programme to enhance its new level of performance. Fitted with air suspension, rather than coil-springs, Jaguar Land Rover’s SVO department has focussed on tuning the Defender’s all-round performance.

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This prototype features a chunky, quad-tip exhaust system that snakes its way around the Defender’s rear suspension. The current Defender V8 features a relatively subtle tune of the supercharged 5-litre AJV8 unit that produces 518bhp. This figure is expected to rise to over 600bhp for the new high performance, making this final iteration of the iconic supercharged V8 one of the most powerful to date. Power will be sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed transmission.

The Defender SVR will also feature visual updates to coincide with the changes under its skin. These will include new front and rear bumpers to suit the wider bodywork, plus new wheel designs and colour options. There will also be some subtle changes inside the cabin, with trim and material upgrades to suit its higher purchase price.

We’ll have to wait a little while longer to find out more specifics, but we know for certain that the SV-developed Defender will be the model Land Rover hopes will rival AMG’s wildly successful G63, adding another popular high-margin model to the top of its range.