Ares Design is an Italian luxury coachbuilder with a history of modifying some of the most iconic and luxurious cars on the market. It’s usually known for modifying Lamborghinis and Ferraris, and its most famous work of all time is the Ares Design Project 1, a sports car based on the Lamborghini Huracan and inspired by the DeTomaso Pantera. This time, however, Ares Design is trying something new with the Land Rover Defender used as the blank canvas.
That being said, Ares Design already worked on the Defender in 2018. Developed in collaboration with JE Motorworks, it featured a V8 engine churning out 282 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, paired with a six-speed semi-automatic gearbox. It also offered a supercharged variant producing 478 horsepower at 479 lb-ft of torque.
For 2021, Ares Design unveiled its new project, the Land Rover Defender Spec 1.2, based on the classic Defender 110. The coachbuilder describes this project as a “tribute to the timeless off-road icon.” Like the 2018 model, the Defender Spec 1.2 is modified extensively and features carbon fiber body parts, fender flares, a custom hood, and new LED lights. It now sits on a set of 305/70 Cooper Discoverer STT Pro 18-inch 5-spoke wheels and features improved underbody protection, a 35 mm lift kit, an all-new exhaust system, and adjustable suspensions with two different modes: soft and sport.
Ares Design chose to go with the same engine used in 2018, a stock V8 churning out 282 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. The six-speed semi-automatic transmission was also left untouched. However, the brakes on the Spec 1.2 have been upgraded, thanks to high-performance larger discs and six-piston calipers.
The interior is now covered in carbon fiber, while the seats, steering wheel, and gearshift paddles are all covered in soft leather. The Spec 1.2 also features a custom steering wheel, and steering column levers have also been upgraded for a more modern look. The Spec 1.2 also features a push-button start/stop, electric windows, and an infotainment system with Bluetooth connectivity.
According to Dany Bahar, Ares Design‘s CEO, the Defender Spec 1.2 has been redesigned beautifully to express luxury while also retaining the original model’s off-road capabilities.
Ares Design has not revealed details about the price yet, but being based on the costly 2018 model, we do not expect the Spec 1.2 to be easy on your pockets.
More details on Ares Design’s website
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