If you’re a fan of modded Defenders, you might have heard of Himalaya, an aftermarket specialist that fits the British off-roading icon with modern V8 engines and custom interiors, among other things.
This one is part of the tuner’s new ‘Summit Series’, which means it’s a flagship model, and is powered by a factory supercharged LT4 V8 with 650 HP, more than any of their previous builds.
This in turn means it’s not cheap, so commissioning one will result in spending anywhere between $250,000 and $300,000, although they also sell “cheaper” Defender packages starting from around $115,000.
Other mods include specially-designed Brembo brakes for enhanced stopping power, a proprietary four-link suspension with coil-over dampers, a modern 8-speed automatic gearbox, a roll cage, Fox shocks and front and rear skid plates.
Read: Himalaya Thinks Its LS3-Powered Land Rover Defender 110 Pickup Is Worth $250k
Meanwhile, the bespoke interior features custom seats and dashboard, as well as leather-covered door panels, a modern climate control system, flat bottom sports steering wheel and Hi-Fi audio.
“At Himalaya, our engineering team is always working to provide clients the very best, and our new Summit Series is a direct reflection of that commitment to create the very best Defender restorations in the world,” said Himalaya President Greg Shondel.
“This first Summit Series Defender is our first modern ground up-level creation. The truck features our own in-house transfer case that is built for increased horsepower. HIMALAYA’s engineers also included a special coil-over suspension that presents a vastly improved drive experience. Another great facet to this truck is Brembo partnering with us to provide a highly specialized braking system that works in tandem with the truck’s upgraded performance. This really is a next level truck, which is what our new Summit Series is all about.”
While the term “Ultimate Defender” has been thrown around a lot in recent years, especially with Project Kahn and others doing such a fine job with the off-roader, bespoke ones with 600 HP or more are rather rare beasts.