Ares Design, the Italian coachbuilder founded by ex-Lotus boss Dany Bahar, likes an old Defender. This year’s menacing Defender ‘Spec 1.2’ is the follow-up to 2018’s Defender Ultra V8, which you can read about by clicking on these blue words.
Ares made 53 of those for €215,000 each. This ‘new’ one looks like it’s limited to just 15 examples. Prices haven’t been made public, but we’d expect it to cost just as much, if not more than the old one.
No snorkels and off-road accessories
The Spec 1.2 does without the Ultra V8’s winch, snorkels, and other off-road paraphernalia, though it still gets knobbly 305/70 tires, electronically adjustable shocks with Sport and Soft settings, and a 35mm lift kit. Same engine as the old car, too—a 4.7-liter nat-asp V8 paired with a six-speed automatic transmission for 278hp and 440Nm. The brakes are by AP Racing.
For the exterior, Ares has added fancy LED lights, wider wings to accommodate those chunky tires, and a carbon hood and grille/headlight surround. There’s carbon inside, too, most obviously on the steering wheel and the backs of the front seats. The (very) red leather is illuminated by a new panoramic glass roof and bigger side windows for the third row.
There’s also modern infotainment, heated mirrors, and more modern-feeling control stalks.
We know the world hardly needs another modified Land Rover Defender, but what do you make of this one?
More photos of the Ares Design modified Land Rover Defender:
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
