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Morning!
I’m sure you would have all the recent Defender facelift that was spied in the UK. I did some analysis of it for my Instagram page so I’ll just post the pictures here for your viewing.
I think the updates will look cool, but make the car a bit less timeless. We will see.
I don’t think this is a facelift - JLR wouldn’t do a big facelift and do another one a year or two later.
I think it might be the new V8 model. The AJ133 has been out of production for a few years now, and they only have so many stockpiled up. Plus it’s the last car to use that engine. The OCTA-esque front bumper to me implies that the BMW 4.4 V8 is is under the hood. The 523 horsepower version currently in the P530 tune of the RR & RRS would make sense as a replacement for the AJ133 in the Defender.
I don’t think this is a facelift - JLR wouldn’t do a big facelift and do another one a year or two later.
I think it might be the new V8 model. The AJ133 has been out of production for a few years now, and they only have so many stockpiled up. Plus it’s the last car to use that engine. The OCTA-esque front bumper to me implies that the BMW 4.4 V8 is is under the hood. The 523 horsepower version currently in the P530 tune of the RR & RRS would make sense as a replacement for the AJ133 in the Defender.
Interesting, what you're saying is that a new in between model, not the octa with 6D but a "V8" that now will instead use the bmw engine instead of the Supercharged jag V8 ... ?
Interesting, what you're saying is that a new in between model, not the octa with 6D but a "V8" that now will instead use the bmw engine instead of the Supercharged jag V8 ... ?
Yes, that is my assumption. The supercharged V8 has been out of production for a few years and won’t be around forever, and it can’t pass the upcoming Euro 7 emissions regulations that go into effect later this year. The BMW V8 is Euro 7 compliant.
The only thing that looks off is the exhaust, as it isn’t a quad exhaust. But it’s a prototype after all.
Yes, that is my assumption. The supercharged V8 has been out of production for a few years and won’t be around forever, and it can’t pass the upcoming Euro 7 emissions regulations that go into effect later this year. The BMW V8 is Euro 7 compliant. The only thing that looks off is the exhaust, as it isn’t a quad exhaust. But it’s a prototype after all.
The Defender I ordered last July never appeared until March due to the cyber attack so I refused delivery. I needed it before 12/31/25 for tax purposes. I had planned to order a 2027 V8 Defender this July and get it before 12/31/26. Based on this thread, I may need to order a 2026 now if I want an AJ133. I've owned that BMW 4.4 V8 in an X5 and know it's not that reliable long-term. The AJ133 is finally better with metal coolant crossover lines.
Are you 100% sure the AJ133 is out of production? I don't think it is. In USA you can still order it. And a 2027 refresh after a 2026 refresh isn't a big deal, must be all cosmetic, if true at all. In the A.I. world anything can become "news".
Interesting thoughts, everybody. I get what you are saying Cincy and I think that makes sense but I also think:
- An MY27 facelift would be the completion of the somewhat light-on MY26 facelift, giving the Defender a full, proper mid-life update whilst also bringing it in line with their range-topper.
- You suggested that the OCTA-esque front suggests an S68 engine, but what is the evidence behind that? The new front doesn’t really provide much more space for the engine, or much more airflow for cooling (which it would probably require less of compared to the AJ due to being more modern).
Also if it were to be a V8, I would have thought they would have at least put on the old style V8 muffler on the prototype, given that early prototype AJ Defenders had the quad exhausts.
Does that make sense?
P.S. I’m purely brainstorming over here, no emotions
Are you 100% sure the AJ133 is out of production? I don't think it is. In USA you can still order it. And a 2027 refresh after a 2026 refresh isn't a big deal, must be all cosmetic, if true at all. In the A.I. world anything can become "news".
JLR moved production of the AJ133 in-house to their Wolverhampton engine plant back in 2020 after Ford’s engine plant in Wales was shut down. They said they’d produce it for another 3-5 years. They did end production on it last year per my source at JLR, but they ramped up production and stockpiled enough for the Defender’s production run as well as replacement engines.
Interesting thoughts, everybody. I get what you are saying Cincy and I think that makes sense but I also think:
- An MY27 facelift would be the completion of the somewhat light-on MY26 facelift, giving the Defender a full, proper mid-life update whilst also bringing it in line with their range-topper.
- You suggested that the OCTA-esque front suggests an S68 engine, but what is the evidence behind that? The new front doesn’t really provide much more space for the engine, or much more airflow for cooling (which it would probably require less of compared to the AJ due to being more modern).
Also if it were to be a V8, I would have thought they would have at least put on the old style V8 muffler on the prototype, given that early prototype AJ Defenders had the quad exhausts.
Does that make sense?
P.S. I’m purely brainstorming over here, no emotions
If my theory is correct, it would use the N63B44T3 (third generation N63) engine, not the S68.
Superchargers run cold, turbochargers run hot. Turbocharged engines generally need more cooling than supercharged engines. Having the OCTA front end with increased airflow makes sense if it’s using the BMW V8. But as I said before, I agree that the exhaust is odd. Of course it is a prototype, but I’d expect to see the a true dual exhaust as that what the N63 and S68 have. And this prototype doesn’t have that. We’ll find out soon enough what this is, though.
If my theory is correct, it would use the N63B44T3 (third generation N63) engine, not the S68.
Superchargers run cold, turbochargers run hot. Turbocharged engines generally need more cooling than supercharged engines. Having the OCTA front end with increased airflow makes sense if it’s using the BMW V8. But as I said before, I agree that the exhaust is odd. Of course it is a prototype, but I’d expect to see the a true dual exhaust as that what the N63 and S68 have. And this prototype doesn’t have that. We’ll find out soon enough what this is, though.
Interesting, so the N63 is a turbo v8 but sort of down market/ power from the S68 it appears from a brief search https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_N63
So your idea is JLR will replace their long standing SC v8 with this bmw motor in the mid/high spec models which likely keeps price down but performance on par ?
Does it seem most likely that any new combination will also be a MHEV which leaves the Jag SC V8 as the last non-hybrid / non-DC-DC vehicle?
2027 Defender
