TL;DR: Land Rover's Defender takes centre stage across two Asian cities — Kaohsiung and Singapore — offering a rare chance to push the iconic 4x4 through real terrain and urban streets alike. Whether you're a committed off-roader or a city dweller with weekend ambitions, this is the Defender experience worth seeking out in 2025.
Key Takeaways
- Defender Trophy Challenge in Kaohsiung puts decision-making and driving skill to the test across rugged off-road terrain.
- Defender 110 V8 in Singapore delivers a visceral, performance-oriented urban drive unlike anything else in its class.
- Both experiences are live now and open to prospective buyers, enthusiasts, and media across the region.
- The Defender positions itself not as a vehicle but as an active partner in adventure — a distinction Land Rover is leaning into hard for 2025 and 2026.
- Pricing for the Defender 110 V8 in Singapore starts from SGD 598,888 with COE, placing it firmly in the premium performance SUV bracket.
What Is the Defender Trophy Challenge in Kaohsiung?
The Defender Trophy Challenge landed in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in May 2025, transforming a stretch of southern Taiwan's rugged outskirts into a purpose-built off-road arena. The event is not a passive showcase — participants are placed behind the wheel of a Defender and guided through a series of terrain challenges that demand real-time decisions: when to engage low-range, how to read a camber, where to place your wheels on a loose-gravel descent. It is, in short, a driving school disguised as an experience day, and it is more demanding than it sounds.
Land Rover partnered with local operators and certified Defender instructors to run the Kaohsiung edition, which drew participants from across Taiwan and visiting media from Southeast Asia. The course included water crossings, steep inclines, and articulation tests that exposed just how capable the standard Defender 110 remains without aftermarket modification. For anyone who has only ever driven a Defender on sealed roads, the Kaohsiung challenge reframes the vehicle entirely.
How Does the Defender 110 V8 Perform in Singapore?
Singapore is not, by any objective measure, off-road country. And yet Land Rover chose the city-state as the primary launch market for the Defender 110 V8 in Southeast Asia, and the reasoning becomes clear the moment you press the throttle. The 5.0-litre supercharged V8 produces 525 horsepower and 625 Nm of torque, pushing the Defender from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds — figures that sit comfortably alongside dedicated sports saloons. On Singapore's expressways, the V8 feels less like a large SUV and more like something with intent.
The interior has been upgraded accordingly, with configurable ambient lighting, a 11.4-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen, and sport seats finished in Windsor leather. Land Rover's local distributor, Inchcape Singapore, has been running invitation-only drive sessions along routes that take in the Kranji countryside and the Pan Island Expressway, giving prospective buyers a genuine sense of the car's dual personality. The sessions are ongoing through July 2025 and can be booked via the Land Rover Singapore website.
Land Rover Singapore — Defender 110 V8 Experience
📍 15 Leng Kee Road, Singapore 159095
🗓 Opened: May 2025
🌐 Website | 🗺 Google Maps
Why Does the Defender Matter More Now Than Ever?
The Defender's return in 2020 was met with scepticism from purists who mourned the original's utilitarian bones. Five years on, Land Rover has answered its critics not with words but with product breadth. From the entry-level Defender 90 to the 130-seat eight-passenger variant, and now the V8 performance edition, the range covers more ground — literally and figuratively — than any previous generation. The Trophy Challenge format, which Land Rover has now run in over a dozen global markets, is the brand's most effective tool for converting the unconvinced.
In Asia specifically, the Defender has found a receptive audience among buyers who want performance credentials without sacrificing the visual authority of a large SUV. Markets like Taiwan, Singapore, and increasingly Vietnam and the Philippines are showing strong order books for 2025 and 2026 models, according to regional distributor briefings. The V8, in particular, appeals to buyers upgrading from German performance SUVs who want something that stands apart on the road.
The Verdict
If you are in Singapore before the end of July 2025, book the Defender 110 V8 drive session. It will recalibrate what you think a large SUV can do on a public road. If you are in Taiwan or planning to visit, the Trophy Challenge in Kaohsiung is a genuinely immersive half-day that earns its reputation. Neither experience requires a purchase commitment, but both are likely to make one feel considerably more tempting. Go for the drive, stay for the V8 soundtrack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Defender Trophy Challenge being held in Asia?
The Defender Trophy Challenge is currently running in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, with sessions ongoing through mid-2025. Land Rover and local partners operate the course on the outskirts of the city, using terrain that includes water crossings, inclines, and articulation tests.
How much does the Defender 110 V8 cost in Singapore?
The Defender 110 V8 starts from SGD 598,888 with COE in Singapore, as of May 2025. Pricing is subject to change based on COE fluctuations and optional specification packages.
Can I book a Defender test drive in Singapore right now?
Yes. Inchcape Singapore, the authorised Land Rover distributor, is running invitation-style drive sessions through July 2025. Bookings can be made via the Land Rover Singapore website or by contacting the showroom at 15 Leng Kee Road directly.
Is the Defender 110 V8 available in other Asian markets?
The Defender 110 V8 is available across several Asian markets including Hong Kong, Japan, and Australia. Singapore was chosen as a priority Southeast Asian launch market for the V8 variant due to strong demand for high-performance SUVs in the city-state.
Do I need off-road experience to participate in the Trophy Challenge?
No prior off-road experience is required. The Defender Trophy Challenge is designed for all skill levels, with certified instructors guiding participants through each stage. The event is as much about building confidence behind the wheel as it is about testing the vehicle's capabilities.