Since the mid-80s the Land Rover's Defender's name has stood for one of the most original and indestructible off-road vehicles in automotive history. Over the past 70 years, the model known solely by its brand name has only bee discreetly improved - until incompatibilities with pedestrian protection ultimately sealed its fate in early 2016.
Land Rover Defender DP500 by Manhart
Meanwhile, Land Rover introduced the much-hyped successor last year, which celebrates the history of its iconic ancestor with its distinctive design and first-class off-road capability. The SUV was a big success. Manhart Performance has now gone a step further with the Defender DP500. The German tuner wants to demonstrate that the new off-roader can also be a front-runner on the road as well.
The most Off-Roadey of SUVs in Land Rover's lineup has been heavily upgraded both mechanically and aesthetically. The emphasis on this Defender is now, ON-ROAD performance. So much so, in fact, that with the new upgrades, the car no longer appears to be all that competent off-road.
The vehicle starts life as a Land Rover Defender P400 AWD in the long, five-door body version 110.
The remap boosts the engine's power to an impressive 512 horsepower and 523 pound-feet (710 Nm,) placing the car on par with the likes of the top model, which is powered by a 5.0-liter supercharged V-8.
The DP 500 will be far more dramatic with Manhart's stainless steel exhaust system. It is currently still in the works and will be available with either carbon-coated or ceramic-coating.
Manhart may also provide a brake upgrade on request. In terms of the chassis, the factory air suspension has been optimized and the vehicle now sits lower by 30 millimeters. This is achieved either electronically or through the use of coupling rods.
Visually, the DP 500 looks especially good with its new wheelset, which includes Manhart's Forged Line rims in 10x24 inch with a light gray finish and 295/30Z R24 section tires. There is also a smaller 10.5x22 inch Concave option with a black finish and gold trim strip on 295/40 section tires.
Further visual accents are set off by the masculine flared body-colored fenders which give the DP500 significantly broader shoulders compared to the Defender. Other exterior changes include a new engine cover and the decorative silver stripes which contrast rather well against the black bodywork.
Finally, Manhart refines the cabin with a high-quality leather/Alcantara interior with customizable accents. There is also a set of electrically powered Recaro Manhart ErgoMed front seats with heating and cooling for the driver and front passenger and integrated airbags.
To find out more about the DP500 head to Manhart’s Website