*And yes, that rather steep price for the V8-powered Defender is actually just the duty-free figure.
Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia has just introduced the Defender V8 locally, available in both the long-wheelbase 110 and the even longer-wheelbase 130 variants. Prices start from RM 998,000 for the Defender 110 V8 and climb to a whopping RM 1.198 million for the Defender 130 V8 — and yes, those figures are before any taxes and options…
Now, the star of the show in these Defenders has to be the venerable Jaguar Land Rover 5.0-litre supercharged AJ-V8 nestled under the hood. This marks the final hurrah for this iconic eight-cylinder engine, with the newer V8-powered Defender Octa having switched over to a BMW-sourced 4.4-litre mild-hybrid twin-turbo unit.
In the 110 guise, the AJ-V8 puts out 525 PS and 625 Nm of torque. All that grunt is sent to all four wheels via a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox, launching this boxy behemoth from 0–100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds.
As for the larger and heavier 130 on the other hand, it interestingly gets a slightly detuned version of the same engine, delivering only 500 PS and 610 Nm. Nevertheless, that’s still more than enough to hustle this 8-seater Goliath to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, and up to the heady heights of 240 km/h.
Under their blocky bodies, these V8 Defenders come equipped with the usual low-range transfer case and Land Rover’s Terrain Response system, plus a 900 mm maximum water wading depth. The V8s further benefit from an electronic limited-slip rear differential with yaw control, retuned adaptive dampers, stiffer suspension bushes, and thicker solid anti-roll bars — all helping to enhance this off-roader’s on-road prowess.
Visually, these 8-pot Defenders are differentiated from their lesser-cylinder siblings by a set of 22-inch matte grey five-spoke alloy wheels and a pair of subtle V8 badges on the front doors. And if those details don’t give it away, the quad exhaust pipes out back should make it abundantly clear what’s under the hood when this beast roars by.
Inside, all Defender V8s comes outfitted Windsor leather and Kvadrat fabric upholstery as standard, complemented by a metallic grey dashboard beam. The 110 nets 40:20:40 split-folding heated rear seats with a centre armrest, while the 130 features 60:40 middle-row seats with manual slide and recline.
Incidentally, the arrival of the V8 also marks the local debut of the Defender 130. This stretched variant adds an extra 340 mm in rear overhang (bringing its total length to a LWB S-Class-besting 5,358 mm), as well as three additional seats over the five-seater 110.
Jeffrey Gan, Managing Director of Southeast Asia, Sime Darby Motors, said, “The Defender V8 represents the peak of Defender’s engineering prowess, combining exceptional performance with the hallmark luxury and capability inherent to the Defender lineage. Designed to meet the highest standards of quality in all aspects, it encapsulates Sime Darby Motors’ drive to deliver an outstanding customer experience to Malaysians. We are pleased to launch this exceptional vehicle to those who value automotive excellence and uncompromising performance.”
Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz, Managing Director, Inokom & Distribution Malaysia, expressed, “This launch underscores our commitment to delivering world-class and luxury automotive experiences to our customers. The supercharged V8 engine delivers a commanding driving experience, while the curated interior and adaptable design provide both comfort and versatility across diverse terrains. With its powerful V8 engines, luxurious interiors, and advanced features, the Defender V8 is set to redefine the standards of luxury SUVs on our roads.”
