We are all well-versed with the fact that the world is moving towards an electric future. However, there are some iconic vehicles from the past that are loved by a lot of people, and they cannot let them go because of their ICE powertrains. So, in their attempt to save such classic icons, people are now retrofitting them with EV drivetrains. Recently, a beautiful example of such a conversion was shared online. The popular Hollywood comedian and automotive enthusiast Jay Leno brought a Tesla-powered vintage Land Rover Defender onto his show and drove it around to tell how it feels to drive a converted icon.
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Raglan Land Rover Defender powered by Tesla motor
The video of the Raglan Tesla-powered vintage Land Rover Defender has been shared on YouTube by Jay Leno’s Garage on their channel. The video starts off with Jay Leno introducing the Raglan Defender and bringing on the owner of the company. He then asks the owner of Raglan about the vehicle and his company. To this, he replies that Raglan is an automobile company formed by American veteran soldiers like him and others to retrofit the vintage Land Rover Defender with electric drivetrains.
Production process of Ranglan Defenders
Following this, Jay Leno then asks the owner about the entire process of production of such a unique vehicle. To this, the owner replies that they either offer their clients a base body of a Defender, or they can also restore the client’s own vintage Defender. He adds that after this, they source electric motors, batteries, and some other components from used Tesla cars in the market.
He then adds that after this, they integrate the Tesla powertrain with their specifically designed components to create the battery-powered Defenders. The owner mentions that, in total, it takes around 2,000 hours to hand-build one Raglan Defender. The company also offers numerous customizations, which also add to the timeline of production.
Powertrain specifications and performance
The owner mentions that, with a mix of their proprietary components and Tesla technology, they produce an SUV that offers a maximum power output of 600 bhp. He adds that the Raglan Defender can do 0-100 kmph in just 5 seconds despite its extremely heavy weight. He adds that the Raglan Defender comes equipped with an 85 kWh battery that offers a driving range of 200 miles or 321 km on a single full charge. It also supports DC fast charging, which in just 90 minutes can fully charge the vehicle.
Driving impressions
Jay Leno, after talking with the owner, hops into the vehicle and starts driving on the highway with it. He continues asking a ton of questions to the owner of the company and gives his opinions on the vehicle. He mentions that the vehicle drives very smoothly, and he can feel the power from the electric drivetrain. He adds that also, because of all the power available, the vehicle does not feel extremely heavy and picks up speed very quickly. Apart from this, he adds that the suspension setup is also very suitable for normal driving and does not feel extremely rough.
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The post Jay Leno drives Vintage Defender powered by Tesla electric motor [Video] first appeared on Cartoq.