The famous 4×4 is built on a familiar Ares template: big engine, lots of carbon fiber.
Ares Design, an Italian coachbuilder, has taken on the most difficult and controversial task of pimping the Land Rover Defender.
It is a sign of the lasting impression that the iconic beast has made that people still play with it many years after production ended and just before Land Rover embarks on the difficult and challenging task of creating a replacement model.
Ares claims that the Defender has been completely reworked by its mechanics, including a new interior and engine upgrade. The company’s mechanics can even install a sunroof to the cars they upgrade.
Waleed Al Ghafari (the co-founder of Ares) described the new car “the Defender of all Defenders.” Dany Bahar, the company CEO, said that the team updated an icon. “The Defender” is a motoring icon. But icons can be reimagined. Our Defender is the ultimate embodiment of the bespoke 4×4, with incredible performance, captivating looks, and opulent touches more similar to a luxury SUV.
The 278-hp and 324-lbft (439 Nm) engine is a V8 transplant. It starts as an Land Rover 4 liter V8, which was increased in bore from 94 to 96mm. This increase, along with new camshafts, revved cylinder heads, and larger injectors, has resulted in 4,748 cc.
Milltek sports catalytic converts and exhaust system are included. The exhaust system includes a bypass valve to allow for an appropriate V8 sound through the quad exhaust pipes.
Areas can build you a supercharged model that produces 468 bhp (649 Nm) and 479 lbft (649 nm) of torque. The car comes with a six speed tiptronic automatic transmission.
The suspension and brakes don’t stop having fun. Thanks to progressive rate springs, the ride height on the naturally aspirated Defender has been raised by 75mm (2.95 in) and 50mm (1.96 in) respectively. To help both on-road and off-road, Fox has installed high-pressure dampers.
Ares claims that the Defender’s upgraded brakes – AP Racing 362×32 mm front disks clamped with six-piston AP dialipers – will stop it as well as it goes. The car also comes with 18-inch Ares alloys and 305/70 R18 Cooper rubber tires.
The wheel arch extensions, grille, headlight surround, and grille are all made of lightweight carbon fiber. To ensure that Defender remains capable off-road, the company has also added heavy duty front bumpers and rear bumpers, reinforced front tow points and rear tow points, side steps, and steel roof bars. For additional illumination, the upgraded Defender comes with full LED lights.
Although it is a practical car, the Ares team tried to add luxury touches inside the Defender. The bespoke front seats were trimmed in hand-stitched leather with accents of carbon fiber and leather throughout the interior. To free up space between the front seats, the handbrake was replaced by an electronic version.
In an apparent nod to the car’s outdoor inclination there is no carpet on the ground. However, chequer plate aluminum looks good enough.
Are you interested in an Ares Defender The company will take around eight weeks to build it and you’ll need to supply the donor car. This will add another cost of about PS190,000. It’s not going to be 53, but Ares says it will.