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| Kahn LR defender |
Bet you thought the Defender could stand no more tweakery.
you were evidently wrong
I'm not quit sure what to make of these modded Defenders.
Range rovers sports i can understand-the car leans that way in the first place,
so aftermarket tweaking is merely caricaturisation. But a dressed-up Defender?
Surely that's like trying to cram a mangy gundog into a chichi shoulder bag? It
might fit, but it won't be a happy union for any of those involved. So why is
it that i have a soft spot for this car? I think it's because no matter how
much you do to a Defender, whether you give it a towie-tan or a
camo-and-winches makeover, its character remains unaffected. It's always noisy,
always harsh, always utilitarian, always asemi-shambles to drive. The
2.2-letre diesel is rowdy, and the automatic gearbox is hilariously indecisive
at high speeds, constantly flicking and jerking between ratios. In any other
car, this would be unacceptable, But here it's a key part of its charm. In fact
the gearbox might be the single best upgrade-it makes the Defender so much
easier to live with. The live axle chassis bucks around, the discomfort exaggerated
here by a super-firm racing bucket seat standard for all passengers too
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| Kahn LR defender |
The
upside is that the Kahn has the best driving position of any Defender I've ever
driven. I could do without the three-spoke chrome steering wheel, though. It’s
from a speedboat, and not bad to hold, but trying to remember when it's
pointing straight is a trial. However, the quality of the fit and finish is first-rate.
It really is. We’re not just talking about the quilted leather and Harris Tweed
seats here, but every insert, panel or stitch. And there are a lot of them.
Including rear-passenger knee protectors. Steering wheel aside, the harries
tweed 'n' Defender mix works pretty well, adding luxury without seeming overly
precious. It wears its body modes well, too. There have been few mechanical
upgrades bar the wheels, tyres and exhaust, but the extra side cladding over
the arches give the LR a tougher stance, and the wheels and grille sit
comfortably on the slabby panels. It shouts oligarch security entourage or
perhaps rural agri-rock star. We didn't mind being seen in it at all, but if it
were outs, we might change the numberplate
The Kahn LR Defender specs
The numbers: 2198cc, 4cyl, 4WD, 122bhp, 265lb ft, 25.5mpg,
266g/km CO2, 0-62mph in 13.0secs, 90mph, 1887kg
The cost: 49,875 Euro
The Verdict: Rugged, costly and tweedy. And actually quite
convincing. Like a Mercedes G-wagen, but more British
