Very very different exhaust systems.

 

These things exist because people have different budgets, priorities, expectations and aspirations. JLR knows what will sell and what won't better than any of us. I really don't know it's for any of us to judge the choices or wants of others just because they might be different choices to the ones that we made or could make?

 

I think the post has more to do with the V8 specs for the Defender in general in terms of altering the DNA of the defender and not the personal choice of someone buying a V8 relative to a I6 or I4.

Like it or not the defender seems to have more in common with a RR or RRS then it seems to have with a series land rover.....fortunately if you like the more utilitarian vibe you can still craft a defender to be more that way then a luxury v8. Today it seems that its all about options.

 

Like the cliche says, there’s no replacement for displacement!

 

Gas isn't going away soon but combustable engine cars and SUV's are. In 10-15 years, every dealership lot in the US will be full of electric cars. It has already been announced. Auto makers are already planning and designing for them. The military will always have gas and diesel powered vehicles. Law enforcement, fire fighters and EMT's will also. So will utility companies. So will tractor trailers. But we won't.

 

I am actually maybe considering the V8 just because it will be one of the last opportunities to own a V8. I wish it was naturally aspirated, but being supercharged, it is a big closer to that philosophy vs. all the remaining V8s that are turbocharged.

For now, one thing that keeps me from getting one is the alcantra wheel. It needs to be leather for me.

Also, I know full well it is not a performance car, but the growl and feeling will be what I’m after. Will it be a great off-roader? No way compared to the other variants. But I am not going to do anything challenging. And getting the 20in wheels will allow it to do some medium off-roading along with some beach fun.

 

Of course we don’t need a V8. Nobody does. Then again nobody needs an extra thousand pounds of off road suspension, transmission, and bulk just to cruise around on paved roads. Nothing about large off road equipped SUV’s and 4x4’s makes any sense unless you actually go off road. Doesn’t make sense for any individual, and collectively it makes no sense for the planet. The V8 is just another data point in how irrational we can be. But it’s no more irrational than all the Defenders with street tires lugging around all this expedition crap just for looks. I love my Defender, but I’d sell it in a second if I didn’t plan to tow off road, drive in snow storms, and haul all kinds of stuff around. None of this is rational.

 

The V8 seems, to me, to be THE DNA of The Defender:

​​​​​​​https://silodrome.com/history-land-rover-defender/

 

As someone noted above, the V8 can appeal to the RR or RRS crowd. I’m coming from a 2013 RRS HSE V8 and the V8 Defender 2022 is what did the trick for me. I tried the v6s and they were great, I love the idea of the defender and the capabilities, but missed the power and umph for lack of a better word versus the V8 RRS. So far, loving the Defender V8.

 

How’s the throttle responsiveness? In the I6, there is definitely turbo lag and you have to adjust your driving a bit. But with the supercharged V8, I assume it’s almost like a N/A engine. Also, do you take your V8 defender off-roading?