Currently reading: 399bhp Land Rover Defender V8 sold out

Brand's 70th birthday produced a limited-edition, re-engineered version of the off-road icon using a 5.0-litre V8

Land Rover's re-engineered Defenders V8 model has officially sold out just one month after it was announced.

Land Rover Defender V8 driven

The model was launched to celebrate the brand's 70th birthday and uses 5.0-litre V8 engine to make it the most powerful and fastest yet made.

The 90in wheelbase model, which can hit 60mph from rest in 5.6sec, is going to be produced in just 150 examples.

New Land Rover Defender edges closer to production as cold weather testing commences

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The Defender Works V8 produces 399bhp and 380lb ft, dwarfing the output of the discontinued standard Defender, which made just 120bhp and 266lb ft.

Land Rover said the new car pays homage to early high-powered engines such as the Series III Stage V8 and the 50th Anniversary Edition. The Defender Works V8 is the first official V8 Defender to be launched since 1998.

Crossing the Atlantic in a Land Rover Defender (sort of)

The re-engineered Defenders use an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with sport mode, along with uprated brakes, a handling kit consisting of springs, dampers and anti-roll bars, and exclusive 18in alloys with 265/65 tyres.

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Eight colours are offered, with contrasting black roof, wheel arches and grille, and machined aluminium door handles, fuel filler cap and bonnet lettering will feature.

The interior has a leather dashboard, door panels, headlining and Recaro sports seats and use the Land Rover Classic heritage arm’s infotainment system.

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Both 90 and 110 wheelbase Defender Works V8 are to be made, with prices starting from £150,000. Land Rover said other high-performance upgrades inspired by the Defender Works V8 will be offered this year, including power upgrades for the TDCi diesel engine and fast-road suspension and braking kits.

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Jaguar Land Rover Classic director Tim Hannig said: “The idea of a V8 Defender was discussed in 2014, when we were still building the Defender. We knew demand was there for a powerful and fast Defender.”

The Defender Works V8 begins a year of 70th anniversary celebrations for the model, culminating later this year with the unveiling of an all-new Defender.

Jaguar Land Rover recorded its biggest annual sales volume yet last year, with 621,109 vehicles sold, a 7% increase on 2016. Jaguar’s sales increased 20% to 178,601, while Land Rover sales grew by 2% to 442,508.

Read more:

Land Rover Defender review 

Mercedes-Benz G-Class review 

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