2015 Land Rover 110 TWISTED

We put in a call to Twisted who were delighted to confirm that this vehicle was sold back to them from its first owner. The Yorkshire firm then undertook a few additional upgrades before selling it on to its second (and current) owner. But before we get to the trick bits, let’s reacquaint ourselves with its base Land Rover ingredients.

Starting life as a standard Defender 110, this vehicle left Solihull in September 2015 – just four months from the end of production. Shortly after, it found its way to the home of serial Land Rover improvers Twisted Automotive in Thirsk. Once there, it received a number of well thought through modifications. The factory suspension was ditched in favour of Twisted’s Progressive setup. Developed with suspension engineer and ride guru Rhoddy Harvey Bailey, the kit consists of bespoke springs manufactured by Eibach with matched Bilstein dampers. Carefully tailored front and rear anti-roll bars, polyurethane bushes and a custom steering damper all combine to totally transform this Defender’s handling.

As per late Defender specification this 110 is powered by Ford’s 122bhp ‘DuraTorq’ TDCI 2.2-litre engine that’s fed its boost by a Garrett variable-vane turbo. That results in an extremely useful 265lb-ft of torque at 2000rpm, to feed drive to all four wheels via a manual six-speed transmission. In other words, it’s an under-stressed drivetrain that’s both hardy and effortless in action. Spending the past couple of years with its current owner this vehicle was purchased to get around the rural routes of Buckinghamshire; a job that it has apparently performed admirably. However, with a Range Rover also in the household, the 110 simply isn’t getting the use it deserves.

Aintree Green metallic is one of Land Rover’s greatest shades. Not only does it look fantastic, changing its hue – depending on the light available – from near black to a deep emerald, it’s also historically significant. Since Maurice Wilkes first brushed a bit of army surplus drab onto the side of his centrally-steered prototype, Land Rovers have always been available in green. That all stopped with this shade, it was the last available as a standard colour. Green flatters a Land Rover like no other shade and this one looks resplendent with a phenomenal shine emitting from its straight, near mark-free panels.

We looked long and hard to find any serious imperfections and only came up with a couple of scratches to the top of the driver’s side front wing. Elsewhere – and barely worth mentioning – are some very light scuffs from hedgerow flybys on the doors, a few marks to the grilles between the bumper and the main grille, plus some paint peel to the panel beneath the windscreen. Really these are hardly noticeable and the overall impression radiating from this Land Rover is one of a near-new vehicle.

In keeping with the Twisted touches added throughout this vehicle there are some very nice upgrades to the cabin. Twisted confirmed a dash modification to house the upgraded pioneer audio and navigation system. This drives several discreetly concealed Hertz speakers front and rear that deliver significantly improved audio fidelity over standard. The leather seats and Alcantara headlining have actually come from Land Rover and certainly look premium. A stock steering wheel has been recovered in leather by Twisted, who also added its logo to the airbag boss.

Even before it was upgraded this Land Rover was well specified. It has heated front and rear screens, air-conditioning, heated seats for the front occupants plus traction control. There’s even a dog guard in the back, though it doesn’t look (or more importantly smell) like there’s ever been a hound on board. The carpets are immaculate as they’ve been protected by a factory set of rubber mats. The rear compartment has the fold-away optional seats giving a total passenger capacity of seven adults. Whichever one of those seats you find yourself in, this cabin is as plush and tidy as any Defender we’ve ever found ourselves within.

Aside from the suspension upgrade this Land Rover remains mechanically as Solihull intended. Late Defenders had the torque, power and economy to at least make semi-sensible progress in modern traffic, and if you wanted to go a bit quicker in more comfort, there was always the Discovery or Range Rover. Still, a top speed in excess of 80mph and a 0-60mph time in the teens might not sound like much, but what more do you need from your workhorse?

Under the bonnet things are dry and tidy, though if detailing is your thing, there’s plenty of potential here. The coolant could do with a top up and the exhaust clamp for the backbox has come away (it’s still attached just needs tightening) but there’s nothing of concern mechanically. A little drive around the grounds proves as much and shows how smooth and refined this suspension and steering is compared to a stock setup. There’s none of the jolting and jerking associated with a stock Defender ride and the body control is kept in much better check. The last Twisted touch is a bulky steering protector plate under the front bumper for off-road reassurance, though we’re convinced this has never been tested.

As this is only a five-year-old Land Rover and has only passed two MoTs with barely more than 20k miles on the clock, there’s really nothing to report in the way of history. Both the previous and current owners have had the vehicle serviced and to date, nothing’s gone wrong. Not something you can say of many Land Rovers. Essentially, it’s still a new vehicle. 

We don’t tend to cover cars this new, though it’s very easy to argue that even a 2015 Land Rover Defender can still be classed as a classic. It’s the last of a model line that stretches back almost unbroken to 1947 and depending on your viewpoint that’s either a great thing or a travesty. As you’ve read this far, we suspect you’re in the former camp. This 110, with its Twisted upgrades, essentially represents the 110’s logical evolutionary progression. If the original shape were to have lasted to 2020 we’re convinced this Defender would be a close interpretation of what JLR would have achieved by itself.

Vehicle customers in the 21st century demand ever greater levels of tech, comfort and performance. Despite what some of the more rabid Land Rover old guard might have proclaimed, there was simply no way that the old shape Defender would have cut it. The design was too outdated and a clean sheet was the only way forward. Thankfully the new Defender seems to have inherited much of what made the old car so great, though its styling remains somewhat divisive.

If you’d rather have a more practical and comfortable Land Rover that’s as capable on the road as it is off it, then this Twisted-tuned 110 certainly satisfies a lot of those demands. Plus, it comes in a classic package that’s unlikely to ever go out of fashion. As a result we estimate this vehicle between £46,000 - £65,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Buckinghamshire; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

This vehicle is not with us at The Market’s HQ, which means we have had to rely on the owner’s description of it, in conjunction with the photographs you see here, to compile the listing.

With this in mind, we would encourage potential bidders to contact the owner themselves and arrange to view the car in person, or to arrange a dedicated video call in which they can view the car virtually and ask questions.