Electric-powered old model Defender launches

British company Twisted Automotive has launched a limited edition run of electric-powered Land Rover Defenders in the USA and is taking orders for conversion kits for the British and American markets.

The 30 Defenders available for America are soft-top short-wheelbase models with retail prices ranging from around US$185,000 to US$210,000.

The conversion kits available for order in Britain are for Land Rover 90, 110 and 130 models, and are priced from around NZ$133,631.

Twisted will swap the vehicles’ original engines for the electric motors at its factories in Bristol and Virginia.

Twisted is offering two electric powertrains, both with a single large electric motor, mounted longitudinally under the bonnet and driving through the Defender’s original transfer case and locking differentials. The EVs retain the Defender’s selectable low and high final drive ratios.

A 60kWh battery pack is mounted under the floor and Twisted says the Defender EV can cover around 320km between charges. It says the EVs will take about three hours to charge using a fast charger.

The entry-level motor produces 160kW and 380Nm of torque and the range-topping unit delivers 239kW/460Nm.

Twisted says both motors give the Defender EV a 3.5 tonne tow rating.

Available chassis upgrades include more robust suspension, bigger disc brakes with uprated callipers and wider alloy wheels. They’re standard with the 239kW conversion kit and are options with the less powerful motor.

Twisted’s Virginia-based American subsidiary is offering two variants, the NAS-E, with the 160kW motor, and the NAS-E Plus with the 239kW unit and stronger drivetrain componentry.

They also get side steps, front fog lights, spotlights along the front of the roll cage and an NAS-E decals. They have a touch-screen infotainment system, high quality sound system, a reversing camera, an immobiliser, and a GPS tracker.

American buyers can test drive a Defender EV from October and the lead time for delivery of a factory-built vehicle is nine months.

Twisted is based in England and specialises in tuning and upgrading Defenders. It invested heavily in the brand by buying 240 new Defenders before Land Rover stopped building the model.

As well as the EVs, it sells a Defender fitted with a 6.2-litre Chevrolet V8 in America.