Giving Greta the V

Eight seats, supercharged V8 engine is there a more ridiculous car?

- Piers Ward

LAND ROVER CHOSE to launch the V8 version of the Defender 130 on one of those very British days when the clouds throw a hissy fit and blanket us mere mortals in curtains of rain. An already soaked Somerset is swimming in brown puddles, police stopping drivers going any further, pumps spewing the stuff out of houses.

You would think this would be excellent for the Defender, a chance to show just how brilliant it is at coping with extreme conditions. I see you, God, and I raise you river-wading mode!' Except. Ignoring for the time being the irony of extreme weather while driving around in a 7.0-km/ litre SUV, we are following a Nissan Note through every single body of water and marvelling at the progress he is making. These are really deep puddles, the sort to make you wince even in something as capable as a Defender, and Mr Note is calmly, patiently ploughing through.