Skip to main content

The Duke is a Custom-Built Land Rover Defender Looking for an Excuse to Fight

The Land Rover Defender, first introduced in 1983 as a continuation of the original Land Rover Series, is one of the British automaker’s most distinguished icons. Used globally as a recreation, service, and military vehicle, the Defender is recognized as a durable, off-road capable rig with few equals.

Recommended Videos

When Land Rover ended production of the Defender in 2016, more than a few people were upset, and though the company has promised an all-new model sometime soon, there’s no such thing as a brand-new Defender in 2018. That means Defender lovers have three options to satisfy their cravings: find a well-maintained relic, snatch up one of the 150 Land Rover Works-built Defender V8s, or customize a recreation via Arkonik.

We’ve shared Arkonik’s projects before, but because each build is something of a one-off, there’s always a new and exciting model in the works. The latest example is called the D110 Duke. Based on the original Defender 110 (named for the truck’s 110-inch wheelbase), the Santorini Black Duke is both luxurious and menacing.

To build the Duke, Arkonik sourced a classic D110 in good shape, stripped the donor Defender to its bare chassis, performed all necessary framework restoration, dropped in a fully refurbished 3.5-liter V8, upgraded mechanical hardware, restored the exterior paint and trim, then built a custom interior (heavily inspired by the original design). The Duke was constructed according to the desires of its future owner, Mr. Gabbert.

“The process of specifying the exact vehicle that you’re looking for and how the team keeps you apprised of every step of the way makes the journey of building a Defender with Arkonik a very fun experience,” said Gabbert.

Highlights of the Duke’s exterior include Kahn 18-inch alloy wheels, BFGoodrich all-terrain tires, LED headlights, a Warn winch, Puma hood, First Four bumpers, and Front Runner roof rack. Inside, the Duke is distinguished by black leather, diamond trim seats, an Elite Loc-box with 12V and USB plug-ins, leather door inserts, heated front and rear seats, Evander wooden rim steering wheel, alloy gear knobs and interior accents, a Pioneer premium sound system with Apple CarPlay and a backup camera, and a suede headliner.

The bad news, of course, is that the D110 Duke is already taken (for an undisclosed price). The good news is that you can build your own Arkonik-customized Defender Icon whenever you’d like — so start dreaming.

Miles Branman
Miles Branman developed a passion for cars early on thanks to a neighbor’s collection of rare and exotic vehicles. What…
F1 2024 Lenovo Sao Paulo Grand Prix preview: the outcomes are crucial
Autofromo Jose Carlos Pace also called Interlagos is the trac used for the F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

The F1 Lenovo Sao Paulo Grand Prix, held November 1 to 3 at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, promises to be a critical race because of the active competitions between Formula 1 teams and drivers for the World Constructors' and Drivers' Championships. The race track, commonly called Interlagos, has two DRS zones with lengthy straightaways, which allow cars to reach exceptionally high speeds.
Why the Sao Paulo Grand Prix matters so much

This weekend's Grand Prix is the third of three races in the Americas with no breaks. After Sao Paulo, only three races are left in the 2024 season. The Sao Paulo Grand Prix also includes a Sprint race, which means up to eight extra Championship points are winnable with the Saturday race before Sunday's Grand Prix.

Read more
BMW updates aero, electronics, and more on 2025 999cc superbikes and roadsters
BMW engineers continuously re-think and re-do to improve performance.
Two 2025 BMW M 1000 RR motorcycles leaning hard into a race track corner.

BMW Motorrad USA released the 2025 update specifications for four 999cc superbikes and roadsters in typical fashion, which means BMW engineers reevaluated everything. The 2025 BMW M1000 RR, S 1000 RR, M 1000 R, and S 1000 R won't make it to U.S. dealerships until Q2 2025, but that allows time to comprehend and compare the hefty lists of upgrades, updates, and new features on the high-performance knee scrapers.  Pricing will be announced closer to delivery.
Upgrades for the 2025 BMW M 1000 RR

Previous

Read more
Cadillac announces the Lyriq-V as its first EV-V
The Lyriq-V is Caddy's first EV-V
Cadillac Lyriq V

In the last several years, Cadillac has gone to great lengths to expand its lineup to include plenty of luxury-level players to combat the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW on every market level. GM's top-tier division has just announced it will debut the first EV-V in its history, dubbed the Lyriq-V.

Until now, the V-Series has been represented by some of the most potent gas-powered engines in the General Motors stockpile of powerplants. Beginning with the 2004 CTS-V, the current lineup consists of the 2024 and 2025 Escalade-V, CT4 V-Series, and CT5 V-Series. But now, the all-electric Lyriq-V adds a jolt of electricity to its lineup for the 2026 model year.
The Lyriq-V should make at least 595 hp

Read more