If the new Land Rover Defender is a bit softcore for your taste in terms of its off-road capabilities, then a company called Defender Mods has you covered. Their new “Tank Edition” kit for the popular SUV replaces all of its four wheels with tank tracks, giving it more freedom in rough terrains.
The four bolt-on tank tracks are mounted on the existing wheel mounting points without any modifications to the suspension, thanks to an equal number of bespoke adapters. This means that the change from SUV to tank will be nearly as simple as changing all of its four tires, although a significantly taller jack will be required for the swapping.
Read: Hardcore Land Rover Defender SVX Spied, Will Make You Think Twice About A G-Class
The tracks are made from high-strength, heat-treated, lightweight aluminum, similar to the unibody chassis of the Land Rover. Each track weighs around 350 pounds (158 kg), so the full set tips the scales at 1,400 pounds (635 kg). They measure 16 inches wide and are a lot taller than the stock wheels, doubling the Defender’s ground clearance to a massive 20 inches (508 mm).
Obviously, the Tank Edition comes with a few limitations. Besides making it harder to get in and out of the SUV, the top speed will be limited to approximately 40 mph (64 km/h) when they are on. This is also dependent on the terrain, as we wouldn’t recommend leaving them on while driving on the tarmac. In contrast, they sound like a great option for snowy or muddy terrains, making it impossible to get stuck.
The images of the Defender Mods Tank Edition shared by the company are 3D-generated previews, as the first build has yet to materialize. However, the company is accepting orders from Land Rover Defender owners and has created a waitlist for the first few kits, which will be available in late 2023. The price for the tank tracks has not been announced, but it’s not expected to be cheap.
