Special Edition SUV: Prindivlle Design Tunes Land Rover Defender 90

Limited-Edition-Land-Rover-Defender The future of the Land Rover Defender may be a little in flux, but British custom shop Prindiville Design knows exactly what it wants to do with its special-edition Land Rover Defender 90. In fact, the company says it will build only 25 examples of the tricked-out SUV.

“The Limited Edition Land Rover Defender is a truly unique proposition in that it offers a more refined, quiet, and comfortable environment comparable to that of high-end 4x4s,” said Alex Prindiville, Founder and Chief Designer of Prindiville Design, in a press release. “This is an uncompromised solution for either urban city driving or long-distance journeys. The significant interest which we have enjoyed to date will no doubt pave the way for further Land Rover or Range Rover customisations of a similar nature.”

Interestingly, Prindiville Design differs from most other limited-edition Defenders by starting with a commercial-grade Defender 90. If you look closely, this example lacks rear quarter windows, and Prindiville Design cites the two-passenger seating configuration as a selling point.

Revisions include new exterior paint (including both matte and metallic finishes), bespoke exterior emblems, a titanium high-performance exhaust system, chrome side runners, LED lighting, and a ribbed undershield. Prindiville Design’s limited-edition Defender 90 also receives rear parking sensors and cameras — the latter tied to the in-dash infotainment system, which boasts a 5-inch screen, along with Bluetooth phone pairing, Internet access, and a DVD player.

Inside, the Defender 90 is trimmed in Italian leather, while a pair of sport seats sourced from Cobra — which feature hand-stitched piping — replace the stock bucket seats. The Prindiville Design Defender also receives a customized steering wheel, along with — of all things — Alcantara carpet. Predictably, the buyers can customize the interior color scheme to their hearts’ content.

The limited-edition Land Rover Defender 90 is available with several power upgrades, but the most potent package cranks the 2.4-liter turbo-diesel I-4′s output from 122 to 190 hp, while torque rises to 339 lb-ft. Modifications included with this so-called Stage Four upgrade include a new turbocharger, a high-flow intercooler, and silicone radiator hoses. Prindiville claims a Land Rover Defender 90 so modified can sprint from 0-60 mph in about 10 seconds.

Prindiville Defender 90s are fitted with a six-speed manual transmission and a two-speed transfer case, but customers can upgrade to an automatic or tiptronic transmission if so desired. Other mechanical upgrades include 18-inch aluminum wheels, six-piston brake calipers, and stiffer front and rear springs.

Each Defender will be hand-assembled by Prindiville’s team near Silverstone, England, although suspension, braking, cooling and engine upgrades will be performed by Alive Tuning of Lincolnshire. Prices start at £52,000 (roughly $81,500), but much like the Land Rover Defender itself, this model won’t be offered stateside.

Automobile