There's something funny about that Defender. It's right under my nose...
Oh very droll. This is in fact the Flying Huntsman, a Defender-based SUV created by those mildly insane people at Kahn Design. Not content with bolting body kits onto Range Rovers, Kahn is moving into the realm of ground-up rebuilds. Like it?
Erm, yes? Maybe. Why did they do it though? The nose I mean.
Apparently you need the extra 400mm length in the nose to make space for a 6.2-litre Chevrolet V8 engine. Odd, because other Land Rover tuners (Twisted for instance) seem to be able to slot in a big V8 without this much rhinoplasty, but there you go. Maybe it's a style thing. Certainly, that's what head of Kahn Design, Afzal Kahn reckons: "The Defender is probably the most iconic and well-loved British vehicle in existence - I believe even more so than the Mini" he said at the unveiling of the circa £125,000 (plus the VAT) Flying Huntsman 105 Longnose.
"The fact that Land Rover are retiring it is an absolute tragedy - it's one of my top three all-time favourite vehicles. With the 105 Longnose I set out to create something fashionable, iconic and revolutionary which carries on the spirit of the Defender. These days it's not what you wear, it's what you drive. It's a truly British icon in the same way the Wrangler is to the US, the G-Class to Germany or the Land Cruiser L70 to Japan. It's instantly recognisable - if you saw one on the Moon, you'd know it was a Defender. We are keeping the project as British as possible by coach building the vehicle in the UK. We will source new vehicles which will undergo a total re-build with a number of elements and mechanical features refined and upgraded in order to withstand the speed and finesse associated with the Huntsman."
Indeed that allusion to the big Mercedes G-Class isn't just press release puffery - Kahn apparently has ambitions to create a 6x6 version of the Defender Flying Huntsman, as well as a 3.0-litre V6 model, along with 3.2- and 4.6-litre diesel versions.
For now, the 6.2 Chevy engine drives through an eight-speed push-button gearbox and has up to 450hp. If that isn't enough for you, you can also specify armoured personal protection versions with B4, B6 or B7 ballistic protection levels. There will also be a four-door version for, you know, practical reasons.
Anything else?
No official on sale date yet but the 105 Longnose will get a full public unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show in March.
Neil Briscoe - 26 Jan 2015