Since its 2020 reintroduction to the American market, precisely no one has complained that the Land Rover Defender lacks power. But that’s never been a reason not to give a car more power. Case in point: the 2022 Defender, now with a 518-horsepower supercharged V8.
The Defender is still available with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine or a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine with mild hybrid technology, good for 296 and 395 horsepower, respectively. Those have proven more than sufficient for most critics. But here comes the V8, anyway.
Land Rover says the new engine is good for a sub-5-second run from 0 to 60 mph. It comes with exterior badges announcing its presence, and ice blue brake calipers not found on lower-power models.
Other changes for 2022 include a new, faster infotainment system with an (optional) 11.4-inch touchscreen, wireless device charging, and a stronger internal WiFi system.
Once again, the Defender is available in two models – a short-wheelbase Defender 90 and long-wheelbase Defender 110. However, coronavirus production delays meant that very few examples of the short wheelbase model ever reached American dealerships. That problem should remedy itself with time.
Both the pricing structure and the precise arrival date for the 2022 Defender remain unknown. The 2021 edition began at $46,199 for the base model Defender 90 but could climb as high as $83,000 for a fully-equipped 110. Adding a V8 engine to a model typically requires beefing up the rest of the drivetrain, which should mean a hefty premium for the added power. We’ll bring you details when we know them.
