The Defender, emblematic of Land Rover, stirs buzz with its electric restoration
Land Rover is known as a leading contender in the premium SUV market. Originally, Land Rover was a brand that produced affordable and practical cars. Its current premium image was established with the success of its premium lineup, the Range Rover. Therefore, when discussing Land Rover’s true identity, this particular model is always mentioned. The Defender, a traditional SUV, has been the embodiment of Land Rover since its establishment in 1948.
The Defender’s original model name is Land Rover. This means that the vehicle existed before Land Rover became a branded name. In other words, the Defender can be considered the embodiment of Land Rover. Before being named the Defender, models are now called classic Land Rovers. Recently, a British car restoration company announced it had electrified this classic Land Rover, creating a global buzz.
UK Restoration Company Everrati Converts Classic Land Rover into Electric Vehicle
The British restoration company Everrati, a car restoration and electronics specialist, undertook the electrification of the classic Land Rover. Everrati recently unveiled the results of converting a 1971 model improved from the Series 2 to the 2A model into an electric vehicle. The vehicle is part of a project to enter the US market, specifically targeting American consumers.
Let’s take a closer look at the released images. Everrati explained that they completely disassembled the vehicle during production and restored it to a condition almost identical to a new car. They also presented some changes. The exterior paint color was applied in beige, and the front steel bumper was given a visual texture to mimic marble.
The interior seats, dashboard, steering wheel, and transmission were restored to maintain the Land Rover’s classic aura, while the soft top, which serves as the roof, was completely replaced with a new one.
Engine Replaced with Electric Motor, Achieving a Driving Range of 150 Miles
The original engine was removed, and the vehicle was restored to an electric version. Instead, the space was filled with an electric motor delivering a maximum output of 150 horsepower and maximum torque of 30.6kgf.m. Although not outstanding in performance numbers, it represents a significant improvement over the original model’s capabilities.
This vehicle’s unique feature is its ability to freely switch between 2WD and 4WD depending on driving conditions. What about the most important component of an electric car, the battery? The installed battery has a capacity of 60kWh, allowing a maximum driving range of 150 miles on a single charge. In an era where electric vehicles with driving ranges of 250 and 300 miles are flooding the market, barely reaching 150 miles is disappointing.
Everrati to Commence Classic Land Rover Restoration Business in the U.S. Market
Everrati has previously electrified classic Porsche 911s and Mercedes-Benz SLS. They announced plans to formally proceed with the classic Land Rover restoration business, starting with the delivery of the first restored classic Land Rover to a customer in the US, marking the beginning of their market entry.
As an aside, Craig, the buyer of the first restored classic Land Rover, said, “This vehicle is a work of art from both a design and engineering perspective. It’s an honor to be the first in America to purchase and own a classic Land Rover.
