2027 Land Rover Defender Gets Powertrain Updates and New Vertex Trim

The 2027 Land Rover Defender receives multiple updates, with the flagship high-performance Defender Octa seeing a reduction in output from its 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 mild-hybrid engine. Maximum power drops from 626 hp (635 PS) to 533 hp (540 PS)—a decrease of approximately 15%—while peak torque remains unchanged at 750 Nm. As a result, the 0–60 mph acceleration time increases from 3.8 seconds to 4.2 seconds. Land Rover states that a redesigned exhaust manifold enhances the V8 engine’s acoustic character. Meanwhile, the outgoing supercharged JLR V8 engine has been officially discontinued. Previously available on the Defender 90 and Defender 130, it is replaced by the new P380 3.0-liter inline-six mild-hybrid gasoline engine, which delivers 375 hp (380 PS) and 550 Nm of torque—replacing the previous P400 unit that produced 395 hp (400 PS) with identical 550 Nm of torque. Exterior updates include the introduction of the new Vertex trim, offered across three body styles: Defender 90 (two-door), Defender 110, and Defender 130 (four-door), sold alongside the existing X trim. The Vertex features more robust front and rear bumpers, a larger grille, body-colored lower cladding, gloss black exterior accents, yellow brake calipers, and standard 22-inch wheels. Optional finishes include a Patagonia White matte wrap and various other paint colors. The Defender 110 now offers an optional six-seat configuration featuring a 2+2+2 layout across three rows. The second row consists of two individual executive-style seats, designed to improve access to and comfort in the third row while adding additional storage space between the seats. New color options are also introduced, including Woolstone Green exclusive to the Octa and Namib Orange for other variants. An official high-gloss protective film is now available, claimed to feature minor scratch self-healing properties. Additionally, Land Rover plans to launch a smaller, more affordable “compact Defender” in the future, which will be offered in both all-electric and hybrid versions. The current Defender lineup also gains several new official accessories, such as a lockable rear-door equipment carrier, roof-mounted lighting system, and additional rear spoiler options arriving later this year.