Imagine a vehicle that combines the off-road determination of an Arctic explorer with the quiet sophistication of a Savile Row suit. That dear reader is the new Defender 25MY, and it's quite the SUV. At its heart lies the burly new V8 P425 engine, which produces 425 bhp and 610 Nm of torque. What does that mean? This car can pull you, your mate's house, and perhaps a small barn through just about anything Mother Nature can throw.
The Defender is available in three flavours—90, 110, and 130—and caters to all kinds of adventurers. The 90 is the nimble, go-anywhere type, the 110 is the versatile all-rounder, and the 130 is essentially a rolling luxury suite with just enough room left over to carry your dignity.
The Defender 25MY is loaded with technology that sounds like it's straight out of a Bond film. Terrain response and Configurable Terrain Response let you fine-tune the car for sand, snow, rocks, or even that questionable muddy patch behind your house.
It also comes with Electronic Air Suspension and those 20-inch Satin Dark Grey wheels wrapped in all-terrain tyres. They're not just for show—they'll get you over anything short of an erupting volcano (and even then, they might have a good crack at it), according to the JLR folks.
The Defender 25MY gets Windsor Leather Seats that are heated, cooled, and adjustable in 14 ways. and the 11.4-inch PiVi Pro touchscreen.
And let's not forget the Meridian Sound System, which makes the engine's glorious growl the second-best sound in the car. If that isn't the case, there's also a front-centre console refrigerator to keep your drinks cold because lukewarm water is the real enemy of adventure.
The Defender's options list is about as long as War and Peace. Want to cross the Arctic tundra? The Cold Climate Pack has heated bits in all the right places. Heading into the Sahara? The Advanced Off-Road Pack will keep you from sinking into the dunes and crying.
But perhaps the best feature of all is the Black Contrast Roof. It doesn't add any performance benefits, but it does make you look like you know what you're doing. And let's be honest, isn't that the most important thing? Bling!
The Defender 25MY starts at ₹1.39 crore. Yes, it's expensive, but think of it this way: you could buy a small flat for the same price. However, that flat won't have adaptive dynamics, terrain-sensing tech, or the ability to climb a mountain. Your call.
And if you don't need an off-road luxury tank with a built-in fridge? Well, I'd argue that you do. After all, who doesn't want to feel like a cross between Bear Grylls and James Bond?
