Exterior and Interior
The design team at Land Rover, headed by Gerry McGovern had a tough task; how do you make a modern iteration of a classic with lines first designed in the 1940s? Here’s the result as modeled by this 2023 Land Rover Defender 90 Carpathian Edition in a Carpathian Gray paint job. It’s squat stance and dark mien is further accentuated by 22-inch blacked alloys with the DEFENDER script, wrapped in Continental CrossContact rubber. At the rear, clear tail lamps are designed in a homage to the original’s simple circular units, and quad exhausts tell you that there’s a stonking powerplant beneath the hood. Climb aboard and enter the Vintage Tan Windsor and Ebony interior, and it’s clear that this is miles apart from the spartan cabin of the original. It feels like any modern Land Rover, with multifunction steering wheel, electric front seats, dual-zone climate control, touchscreen infotainment system, Meridian sound system and digital instrument cluster. Added toys include the Basic Rear Seat Entertainment pack, Emergency pack and Premium Interior Protection and Storage pack.

Engine
Defenders of yore used to pack sturdy turbodiesel engines that produced modest power and torque, but made up for it with longevity. This 2023 Land Rover Defender 90 Carpathian Edition takes Land Rover’s most potent 5.0L supercharged V8 and stuffs it under the hood. With 518hp and 461lb-ft sent to all four wheels via a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission, you’re going to sixty from rest in under six seconds. A two-speed transfer case, locking rear and center differentials, and the usual suite of Land Rover off-road modes ensure that capability in the rough hasn’t been compromised.