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Overlanding would seem to be more popular than ever, and while you could pitch a rooftop tent on your 4×4, a far more comfortable way to go would be with a full-on camper rig, like this 1990 Land Rover Defender 130 camper for sale right now on eBay Motors.
This Defender 130 has a camper body that appears to be the work of Foley Specialist Vehicles. It features a fold-out bed and a pop-top roof section. The entire rear panel swings up, opening the camper to the outside. Inside, there’s a three-burner stovetop, a refrigerator, a heater, and a hot-water heater.
Ares Design’s gifted auto specialists are no strangers to the aftermarket realm. Since the company’s relatively recent birth, the Italian craftsmen never failed to amaze gearheads with their fascinating works of mechanical art.
A few of Ares’ most notable undertakings have honored the autoevolution pages with their presence, including a bespoke Porsche 911 Turbo with 425 hp on tap and a Tesla Model S-based convertible masterpiece. As you examine these beasts, it’s fairly safe to conclude that Modena’s experts mean business.
Given the fact that we can’t seem to get enough of this firm’s surreal wizardry (and I’ll bet you feel the same), we’d say a closer look at their Land Rover Defender Spec 1.2 is a welcome feat. At the end of the day, transforming an undistinguished previous-gen Defender into a V8-powered monstrosity with eerie vibes is no walk in the park. In fact, I encourage you to sit down and take a deep breath because this bad boy will make you weak at the knees.
In Stock form, the SUV is brought to life by a 2.2-liter turbodiesel inline-four engine with four valves per cylinder head and a healthy compression ratio of 15.6:1. At about 3,500 rpm, the mill produces as much as 121 hp along with a respectable torque output of up to 266 pound-feet (361 Nm) at 2,000 revs. This oomph is distributed to all four wheels by means of a six-speed manual transmission, enabling the Defender to reach a top speed of 90 mph (145 kph).
Now that we’ve covered the standard vehicle’s main characteristics, let’s proceed with a thorough analysis of Ares Design’s leviathan. The very first thing you’ll notice is a sinister widebody kit that manages to look just about as rad as it gets. At the front, the new bodywork consists of a carbon fiber grille that doubles up as a headlight housing for the car’s new LED items, as well as a beefy hood with integrated air inlets.
On the flanks, we spot a set of muscular fender flares arching over the tuner’s rugged 18-inch five-spoke hoops. To add even more visual bulk, Italy’s pros went about installing a stealthy pair of tubular side steps in between. Furthermore, the colossus also received enlarged rear windows, a panoramic roof, and circular LED taillights to round out (no pun intended) the cosmetic pizzazz.
Inside, the cabin has been meticulously reupholstered with top-grade leather, but the use of premium materials doesn’t end there. An assortment of carbon fiber trimmings tastefully complements the new upholstery, while a state-of-the-art infotainment system supporting both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto adorns the dashboard. Ares’ high-tech goodness is concluded by an engine start-stop button, electric windows, and heated side mirrors hosting fresh turn signals.
Last but not least, the Defender’s humble 2.2-liter turbodiesel powerplant has been discarded in favor of a naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V8 behemoth producing no less than 282 wild ponies and 324 pound-feet (440 Nm) of twist. To ensure the additional force is handled with ease, the V8 predator has been coupled with a six-speed automatic gearbox. On the other hand, stopping power is taken good care of by six-piston calipers from AP Racing.
The finishing touch comes in the form of a suspension lift kit, which increases the SUV’s ground clearance by 1.4 inches (35 mm). Should you be looking to purchase your own Defender Spec 1.2, Ares Design claims that your order will be delivered in approximately three months. However, pricing information remains undisclosed at the time of this publication.
It was a shock when Land Rover pulled the plug on its Defender model in 2016, an automotive classic if ever there was one. LR said it had a new version in the works; left unsaid was that the old one couldn’t meet U.S. (and other) safety and emissions standards.
This left Land Rover with a headache familiar to Jeep, Porsche and other makers of four-wheeled icons: How to attract new buyers without leaving the faithful weeping in disappointment.
No easy task—the old one had become an enduring symbol of British pluck. Nothing said “safari” or “adventure” or even “carry on!” so distinctly as the squared-off, underpowered, high-slung and rough-riding Land Rover.
Born on a farm in 1947, it was an homage to the US Army Jeep, which had developed a devout following in Europe during the Big War.
But it was a horrid road vehicle. My early-‘60s Series IIA Land Rover 88 might have lost a race with a lawn tractor and its heater could not begin to cope with winter in New England.
The spare tire on the hood was groovy until it came time to check the oil.
I bought it, used and abused, in 1972 for $400 and sold it in 1974 for $400.
One day I found a Harrod’s fruitcake, still sealed in its tin, under the seats. It was delicious. I wish I still had it. The Landie, not the fruitcake.
Kenya, 1954: Game warden Denis Zaphiro takes Ernest and Mary Hemingway on safari in his company car, a Series I Land Rover 80. John F. Kennedy Library
Over the decades, especially after ‘83, when it became the Defender, the Land Rover slowly evolved and spun off other vehicles, including the Range Rover, the first of today’s luxury 4x4s. Eventually a strange thing happened: rattling around in old Land Rovers became status-y, at least for people who also had something more comfortable in the garage. The cult was taking shape.
A Land Rover Defender 110 from 1993, modified with a custom interior, LED lights, a diesel engine and a snorkel for deep water.
Just like the old Landies, this new Defender comes in two sizes: the two-door 90 and four-door 110. Prices now start just above $51,000. The base engine is a 296-horsepower turbo Four; we’re driving the optional 395-horsepower Six with an electric boost from its 48-volt system. An 8-speed automatic transmission with a two-speed transfer case is standard.
The bigger engine (which is borrowed from Jaguar) makes this heavy, rugged vehicle as responsive as any modern crossover SUV that isn’t a sportscar wanna-be. All this plus the all-independent suspension, another departure from the old norms, finally makes the Defender excellent on the road as well as off. The only thing that takes getting used to is the touchy braking.
Our sample Defender lists for $75,440—that’s $62,250 for the base 110 SE plus the extra dollars necessary for the Cold Climate Pack, the Off-Road Pack, the Comfort & Convenience Pack and a long list of other goodies that range from a panoramic sunroof to special paint, a three-zone climate control, lovely seats and more.
Every Defender comes with full-time all-wheel drive, a low gear range, hill-descent control and Land Rover’s electronic terrain-response system, which has often gotten me into, and then out of, off-road trouble. It also has nearly a foot of ground clearance and can wade through 35 inches of water. While most Defenders will roam Suburbia, their owners may legitimately fantasize about fleeing into the mountains. Or the desert. Or the swamps. (Land Rover offers plenty of accessories for this.)
The old Defender may be chic, but the new one is comfortable. The tall, boxy cabin is roomy and done in a style and with materials that fall midway between yacht and toolbox. There’s heated this and cooled that and a full complement of digital hard- and software, too (with over-the-Internet updates). The new Defender lacks the charm of its ancestor, but charm doesn’t keep a modern automaker solvent. This new model, which is as competent on pavement as it is off, should be another home run.
Land Rover’s new Defender is as capable on the road as it is off.
This just in from Land Rover, too: “Inspired by the endless acts of service . . . from extraordinary citizens this past year, Land Rover today announced the launch of the ‘Defender Above & Beyond Service Awards’ to celebrate US-based charitable organizations that are making a positive impact in their local community. To honor the 70-year history of the brand, Land Rover will award a specially outfitted Defender [like the one above] to seven organizations to help further their charitable efforts.” Got any ideas?
Until April 7, Land Rover is accepting online submissions from search & rescue and coastal and marine conservation groups. In May and June, submissions will expand to five additional categories: animal welfare, first responders, environmental, urban-improvement and fire-fighting services.
Autoblog may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Pricing and availability is subject to change. No donation or payment necessary to enter or win this sweepstakes.See official rules on Omaze.
Enter to win this giveaway or any other Omaze experience on March 17, 2021, and receive 150 bonus entries with code LUCKY150. Simply add the discount at checkout.
The Land Rover Defender is an icon. An intense, luxurious off-roader that turns heads and can crawl up nearly anything. The problem? For the past 20+ years it hasn’t been available in the United States and it’s never been what you’d call environmentally friendly. But this Defender is different. It’s vintage, restored by Himalaya and it’s all-electric. Plus Omaze is giving it away.
At 275 horsepower you won’t be thrown back in your seat, but this is an off-roader, and the 406 lb-ft of torque helps make this an incredibly capable rock crawler. While the 200-mile range isn’t going to be enough to overland for weeks at a time, most of us can count on one hand the amount of times we drive each year more than 200 miles in one sitting.
According to Omaze, some of the other added features include a “MOMO steering wheel, Front Runner roof rack, 18” Land Rover Sawtooth wheels w/ 33” tires, Himalaya front and rear bumpers, LED headlights and side markers, Black wing top 5 bar set, swing away tire carrier, KBX front grille, panoramic rear windows, custom heated leather seats, Puma-style steering wheel, modern gauges, 2” suspension lift, disc brake conversion, Alpine touchscreen stereo with Bluetooth and compact subwoofers.”
Additionally, Omaze is throwing in $20,000 cash. All of this adds up to an incredibly good-looking, capable luxury electric SUV that has a retail value of $210,000.
You’re probably asking yourself, what does it take to win? Well, first of all there is no donation or purchase necessary to enter, though your odds dramatically increase if you do: $10 will get you 100 entries in this sweepstakes, while $50 will get you 1,000 entries and $100 will get you 2,000 entries.
The donations themselves benefit African Community & Conservation Foundation (ACCF), which, according to Omaze, “preserves important African wilderness areas and empowers the communities living alongside those spaces. ACCF works with distinguished nonprofit partners to raise awareness and funding for key conservation projects and transformative community programs. Their founding Project with the Grumeti Fund, in the western corridor of the Serengeti, paved the way to expand and grow their impact across Africa. Recent ACCF Projects include Karingani in Mozambique, the Rwanda Project – Volcanoes National Park and The Malilangwe Trust in Zimbabwe. Your donation will support their mission to contribute to a world in which people and wildlife live together, sustainably, forever.”
If you want this opportunity to own this head-turning EV off-roader, enter here. The deadline to enter is June 23, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.
And don’t forget to use code LUCKY150 at checkout to get 150 free entries for this giveaway or any other Omaze experience on March 17, 2021.
The Premium Car Award by ICOTY 2021 was awarded to the Land Rover Defender.
The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe and the Mercedes GLE were the runner’s up.
The first ever Green Car Award by ICOTY was won by the Tata Nexon EV.
Since its inception in 2005, the Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) award is the most prestigious accolade sought by every car manufacturer in India. In 2021, a glittering ceremony attended by select stalwarts of the Indian automotive industry attended the 16th edition of the ICOTY awards held at the Andaz Hotel at the Aerocity in New Delhi. Held under strict social distancing and sanitization guidelines given the circumstances, the attendance was kept very exclusive. JK Tyre who has been a staunch partner to the ICOTY awards since their inception continued to support the award even this year. The ICOTY jury panel’s voting process was supported by Grant Thornton who came onboard as the Award Validators. The well-known music band from Nagaland, the Tetseo Sisters, regaled the audience with their neo-classic jazz and folk performances.
The Hyundai i20 was awarded the coveted ICOTY 2021 while the Royal Enfield Meteor 350 was awarded the IMOTY 2021. However there were two more awards to give out. The first is the Premium Car Award by ICOTY and for the first time a Green Car Award by ICOTY was introduced.
Dr Raghupati Singhania, chairman and MD, JK Tyre & Industries & Yogendra Pratap, Chairman, ICOTY presented the Premium Car of the Year Award by ICOTY to Land Rover for the Land Rover Defender. We had pre-recorded messages from all the probable winners who could not attend the ceremony. Hence once the Defender was announced as the winner, the pre-recorded message from JLR was played and Rohit Suri, president and MD, JLR India virtually addressed the gathering.
Land Rover took home the Premium Car Award by ICOTY 2021. However due to travel restrictions, representatives from the company could not be present at the event. We had pre-recorded messages from all the probable winners who could not attend the ceremony. Hence once the Defender was announced as the winner, the pre-recorded message from JLR was played and Rohit Suri, president and MD, JLR India virtually addressed the gathering. The Premium Car Award by ICOTY takes into consideration all premium and luxury that sit above the Rs 40 lakh mark. These include both locally produced as well as imported car models. The BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe with 61 points and the Mercedes-Benz GLE with 77 points were runner’s up in the category.
Every year there is a designated date on which the Jury assembles for a meet and tests out all the contenders together. However this year due to the Pandemic, this was not possible. The guidelines set by the ICOTY award also require that the vehicle be thoroughly tested by the appointed jury before the nomination cut-off date of November 30 and this date was extended by 10 days in the wake of the setback that the industry received during the pandemic. So every Jury member got a chance to test out the contenders individually this year.
This year’s awards judging was conducted through an online scoring and voting process curated and monitored by Grant Thornton Bharat and the points tally and winner were revealed by them only at the awards night.
The ICOTY scoring was done by an experienced panel of jury members comprising of Yogendra Pratap (Auto Today), Rahul Ghosh (Auto Today), Dhruv Behl (Auto X), Ishan Raghava (Auto X), Aspi Bhathena (Car India), Sarmad Kadri (Car India), Sirish Chandran (Evo India), Aniruddha Rangnekar (Evo India), Pablo Chaterji (Motoring World), Kartik Ware (Motoring World), Bertrand D’souza (Overdrive), Bob Rupani (Overdrive), Muralidhar Swaminathan (The Hindu Business Line), Vikrant Singh (Carwale), Kushan Mitra (The Pioneer), Girish Karkera (Times Auto) and Kranti Sambhav (Times Drive).
