The Ares for Land Rover Defender Spec 1.2 gives customers’ Defender 110 SWs carbon fibre details and 210kW.
Luxury Italian coachbuilder Ares Design has revealed a limited-edition upgrade for the old Land Rover Defender, dubbed Ares for Land Rover Defender Spec 1.2.
The specification, which follows Ares’ previous 2018 upgrade that saw the firm produce 53 bespoke V8 versions of the rugged 4×4, reimagines customers’ Defender 110 SWs with carbon fibre bodywork, a refurbished interior and a more powerful engine.
The exterior changes are masterminded by the company’s design centre in Modena, Italy. For the 1.2 Spec, the Defender’s bonnet is replaced with a carbon fibre version, the wings are widened and visible bolts are removed.
At the front end, Ares has added LED-powered lamps housed in carbon fibre, and the carbon fibre theme extends to new circle-shaped LED tail lights that have been added to the Defender’s rear.
Other exterior changes include the addition of a high-grade panoramic roof and enlarged tinted windows. The Land Rover Defender Spec 1.2 boasts 18-inch Ares-designed rims, in terms of the wheels.
The luxurious additions continue on the Defender’s inside, with a leather and carbon fibre trim. However, the biggest upgrades have been made to the SUV’s engine.
Following its 2018 specification, Ares has replaced the Land Rover’s original four-cylinder turbo diesel engine with that model’s 4750cc V8 power plant. This is good for 210kW and 440Nm of torque. Power is delivered to all four wheels, maintaining the Defender’s four-wheel-drive credentials, via a six-speed automatic transmission.
Ares CEO Dany Bahar said: “We created our first Defender Ultra V8 in 2018 so we have a great knowledge of the vehicle and that has led us to create a second edition with an even more distinctive style and refined finish.
“Powered by the same V8 engine, the Ares for Land Rover Defender Spec 1.2 retains the characteristics of the new Defender design but beautifully reimagined to express modernity and luxury.”
Ares has yet to reveal details of the specification’s price, but if the 2018 example is anything to go by, expect prices to start somewhere in the region of $350,000. Buyers provide their own Defender and the conversion work takes around three months.
Will Trinkwon