British tuner Kahn Design, or rather their Chelsea Truck Company division, has a wide range of upgrade kits available for the all versions of the Land Rover Defender 90 and 110. Their latest on the iconic off-roader, however, is quite unusual. And like most things unusual, it is also quite amazing.

What Kahn has done here is fit a Land Rover Defender 90 with a V8 engine. The telltale sign of this treatment is the elongated nose of the car. The wings and the bonnet had to be stretched so the massive V8 engine – developing 500 horsepower – could be squeezed in. It makes the car look a bit ungainly, and raises questions about its stability.

Defender is not the kind of car you want to go fast in, as it has the aerodynamic properties of a block of flats. Of course, it is not the first time the British off-roader has been given an oversized, over-powered engine. Bowler has been doing this for years, and with great results. The thing is, Bowler cars are racing machines fitted with bespoke suspension, brakes, and steering.

Instead of all that bobbins, Kahn gives this Land Rover Defender V8 a set of cool 18-inch wheels in matte black. LED lights, bespoke grilles with special badging, signature front and rear fender extensions and side panels, tinted windows, and a sport exhaust system. Inside, they fit sport seats, pedals and steering wheel, plus a navigation system.

All the options available for normal Defenders – including larger wheels and Harris Tweed package – can also be ordered for the V8 version. Production is reportedly limited to 49 units, each costing nearly 90 grand.