Land Rover Unveils 2027 Defender with New Vertex Variant

Land Rover introduced updates for the 2027 Defender SUV, highlighted by the launch of a high-specification Vertex variant. The Vertex is available in 90, 110, and 130 bodystyles and features rugged styling updates, including a larger grille, new front and rear bumpers, body-coloured panelling, and a rear spoiler. Pricing for the Vertex starts at £92,635, while the overall Defender range begins at £58,655.

Mechanical changes center on emissions compliance and powertrain refinement. The manufacturer removed the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 from the lineup, replacing it with a P380 3.0-litre mild-hybrid six-cylinder engine producing between 374bhp and 375bhp. For the V8-engined Octa variant, Land Rover reduced the output of the BMW-sourced 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 from 626 hp to 533 hp for Euro-spec models to meet stricter European emissions standards. While this reduction increases the 0-62 mph sprint time to between 4.3 and 4.4 seconds, torque remains unchanged at 750 Nm.

Engineers reworked the Octa's exhaust system to provide a deeper, "truer" sound. Interior updates for the 2027 model year include updated materials and a new six-seat layout featuring captain chairs for the 110 model. Deliveries are expected to begin in Autumn 2026.