Land Rover Classic is putting a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V8 back into eligible Puma-era Defenders with its new Works V8 Conversion. The program is available for Defender L316 90 and 110 models from the 2012 through 2016 model years, while a wider set of suspension and brake upgrades covers trucks built between 2007 and 2016.

The V8 produces 405 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. It drives through an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, giving the last analog Defenders a powertrain very different from the original Puma diesel engines.

Powertrain and performance upgrades

The engine swap is the centerpiece, but the Works V8 Conversion is a broader mechanical package. Bilstein dampers and Eibach coil springs revise the suspension, while an Alcon brake system uses four-piston calipers at each corner.

Front brake rotors measure 335 millimeters (13.2 inches), and the rear discs measure 300 millimeters (11.8 inches). Those components are matched with additional chassis hardware intended to support the V8 conversion.

Customers can choose between standard 16-inch steel wheels and optional 18-inch alloy wheels. Works V8 badging and a redesigned gear tunnel bring the visual and interior changes, although cosmetic and dynamic equipment can be specified separately from the engine work.

Which classic Defenders qualify?

The full V8 conversion is limited to Defender L316 90 and 110 models from the 2012 through 2016 model years. Earlier examples from the 2007–2016 production period can receive the suspension and brake packages, but they are not eligible for the engine installation itself.

Land Rover says final eligibility depends on the vehicle's build date, condition, existing specification, and market. A Classic specialist or local retailer must assess each vehicle before confirming the specification, pricing, and timing.

Installation and availability

Owners can purchase components through the Land Rover Classic Parts website for self-fitment or use an authorized retailer for installation. For the complete V8 conversion, Land Rover directs customers to its Classic Works facilities in the United Kingdom and Germany, where specialist technicians perform the swap.

That distinction gives the engine conversion a more controlled installation path than a simple parts order. It also allows owners to retain documentation of the work, which can matter for insurance, future buyers, and vehicles being treated as collector pieces.

Land Rover Classic director Dominic Elms said the program is intended to suit a range of uses, from daily transportation and family duty to work vehicles and carefully preserved collector examples. The naturally aspirated setup also separates this conversion from the forced-induction V8 available in the current Defender lineup.