Land Rover Defender 2027 refresh adds Vertex trim and cuts OCTA V8 power for Europe

Land Rover announced a comprehensive refresh of the Defender for the 2027 model year. The new Vertex trim offers a more urban‑focused design with extended front and rear bumpers, a larger grille, body‑coloured lower cladding, new 22‑inch wheels and a palette that includes Fuji White, Santorini Black, Woolstone Green, Borasco Grey, Carpathian Grey and a matte Patagonia White wrap. An optional Extended Exterior Pack adds the same styling cues to other trims.

The Defender 110 now offers a six‑seat configuration (2‑2‑2) with individual captain’s chairs in the second row, improving rear‑seat access and comfort. New interior options feature Windsor leather, Ebony forged textile and advanced climate‑control zones.

Powertrain changes accompany the update. The long‑standing super‑charged 5.0‑L V8 is discontinued. A new P380 mild‑hybrid 3.0‑L inline‑six producing around 375–380 hp joins the range, while the flagship OCTA V8 is detuned from roughly 626 hp to about 533‑540 hp (a reduction of 90–95 hp) to meet Euro 6e‑bis emissions standards. Torque remains at 750 Nm, and 0‑100 km/h times have slipped to 4.2–4.4 seconds. The exhaust system has been retuned for a deeper sound. A self‑healing gloss protective film is now available across the range.

The refreshed Defender debuted at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, with orders opening in Europe and the UK; the US‑spec model retains the original power output.