Land Rover's most conscientious tuner has electrified the Defender. We tried it on home turf...
There are those that get their knickers in a twist about sticking batteries and motors in classic cars, and then there's Twisted, which sees this as adding another, err, twist on the theme of classic Defender tweaking. You can still buy its ICE models, of course, which now include the new T-V8, with its GM-built LT1 V8. This is described as a bit wild. Or there's the also-new T-VS, with a 308hp turbocharged 2.3-litre Ecoboost motor.
Whatever you think about an electric motor subtracting from the Defender's earthy authenticity, it adds to its off-roading abilities. Instead of a wading depth of 500mm, the EV can wade through a stream up to 900mm deep - that rivals the new Range Rover. This is because all the high-voltage elements are IP67 sealed and the batteries aren't hanging down low ready to be snagged.
On the subject of the chassis, everything that's bolted to it - which starts with the bulkhead - is aligned more precisely. Up to a day is spent getting the doors fitted properly. This means they shut with a light shove and open with a satisfying click, using the bespoke, billet aluminium handles. And the Defender's colander-like tendencies have been addressed, too. A good example of this is the door seal. As you'd imagine, this is pressed onto a ridge around the door aperture.
To get the car moving you twist the key as normal, but instead of waggling a massive gear and pressing a heavy clutch, phase two is to push 'D' for drive or 'R' for reverse on the panel set into the transmission tunnel. Simple. Next, release the handbrake, apply some 'throttle' and the Twisted EV pulls off ridiculously smoothly. And almost silently, other than some slight gear whine in the drivetrain.
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