Limited-edition Land Rover Defender: What to expect from the Works V8 Trophy


Simon Wilgress-Pipe
  • English
  • Arabic

Fans of off-road motoring classics will be happy to hear that Land Rover is making a special-edition Defender: the Works V8 Trophy.

Don’t let that ‘classic’ description put you off, though, as the manufacturer says this latest version is being built to tackle the most demanding endurance challenges.

Based on the last generation of the Defender before the model was temporarily shelved in 2016, the new offering will be fitted out with a five-litre engine (a V8, of course, as its name would suggest) and an eight-speed transmission. Its steering and braking capabilities have been significantly upgraded since its original appearance, and it will be fitted with 16-inch wheels.

Additional all-terrain kit on the Works V8 Trophy includes a front winch, a multi-point expedition cage, a roof rack, underbody protection, an A-bar, LED lights and mud-terrain tyres.

The cars will be finished in a yellow hue many will recognise from previous Defenders, with contrasting black flashes on the wheel arches, bonnet and rear door.

Inside, features include black leather upholstery, Recaro seats with yellow stitching and a bespoke-for-the-brand clock placed prominently on the dashboard. Land Rover Classic’s own infotainment system with integrated navigation and mobile device connectivity will also come as standard.

All very tempting, but the bad news for anyone who fancies seeing one in real life is that only 25 of the vehicles are being made.

Subject to Covid-19 restrictions, those who do get their orders in will be invited to take part in an event at Eastnor Castle, a stately home situated near England’s land border with Wales (this is a venue where customers could try out modern-day Defenders at experience days in pre-pandemic times).

Expert one-to-one tuition will be provided as part of the Works V8 Trophy adventure, giving customers an opportunity to learn techniques and develop skills in their own vehicle, before putting their training to the test.

Pricing for the Works V8 Trophy starts at £195,000 ($270,000).

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Racecard

5pm: Al Maha Stables – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m

5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,600m

6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m

6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (T) 1,600m

7pm: The President’s Cup – Group 1 (PA) Dh2,500,000 (T) 2,200m

7.30pm: The President’s Cup – Listed (TB) Dh380,000 (T) 1,400m

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Miss Granny

Director: Joyce Bernal

Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa

3/5

(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

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The British in India: Three Centuries of Ambition and Experience

by David Gilmour

Allen Lane

The Facility’s Versatility

Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
 
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
 
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
 
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
 
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
 
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket

Paris Can Wait
Dir: Eleanor Coppola
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Diane Lane, Arnaud Viard
Two stars

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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.