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00:00I'm at Urban Automotive in Milton Keynes to see some very special Land Rovers, which are behind this door, so let's go check them out.
00:12I'd like to introduce you to Lenny. So Lenny, what do you do here?
00:15So my role here is new vehicle and VIP sales, but I've been here forever, so I do a little bit of everything.
00:21Wraps, conversions, I make a good cup of tea, so a little bit of everything. Brand ambassador.
00:28So what we're going to do today is we're going to look at three of your key vehicles that you do here at Urban.
00:34And the first one we're going to start off with is, people are going to find this surprising.
00:39It's actually your most popular vehicle and it's a bit of a tax dodge.
00:43It's tax and VAT efficient.
00:46Let's talk about it. So what we have here is a Land Rover Defender 110, but it's not a normal one.
00:54So this is a hard top, so it's a hard top, which is a commercial vehicle. It's an N1 commercial vehicle.
00:59It's a van. It's a van, but it's not a van. But it's not a van. You've de-vanned it. And it looks very cool.
01:03So what modifications have you guys at Urban done to this particular vehicle? So obviously there's the wrap.
01:08Yeah, so for getting the wrap, this has got our full wide track kit. So it's got the wider arches.
01:13Lower canards down here. Our square DRLs. Best of British top vents on the bonnet.
01:19We've got our best of British side grills on the side.
01:22Have you got bear grills? We have no bear grills, but I'm sure he'd like this car.
01:27And then we have the fully working roof light bar. Our Urban mud flaps.
01:32Our fixed black shadow side steps. WX3 22-inch wheels.
01:36So you've gone from 18-inch steels to 22-inch alloys, which look like Einke alloy wheels that you used to get on, was it an Evo 6?
01:44Yeah, or the Delta Integrale.
01:46We've got all these body kits, which I must say, you know, they do look quite Land Rover-y.
01:50Our design mantra has always been OEM plus. I mean, you know, I grew up in the max power era.
01:56You can absolutely ruin a vehicle with a body kit. I like to think that we enhance the vehicle without looking over something.
02:02But this is the big thing. Being a van, you don't have rear seats because you're a van, right?
02:06Yeah. OK, come and look. What are these?
02:11So that is a foldable bench seat. So we've turned the two seats into the five seats.
02:15It folds completely flat. So you maintain the van element in the back. So it's still an N1 commercial vehicle.
02:22So it doesn't fold flat then?
02:24It does. The headrests come out and they'll go completely flat.
02:27It's definitely a van.
02:28So these are perfect for people who want to run a vehicle through their business. N1 commercial vehicle.
02:33But they might occasionally carry people in the back.
02:36We've got two over-the-shoulder seat belts. You've got ISOFIX. You've got a central lap belt.
02:41And it's your bestseller?
02:42All day long. This is our bread and butter.
02:44OK, so how much does this upgrade kit, if you had it like this, cost?
02:48So the exterior modifications are approximately Ā£15,000 plus the VAT, except for the wrap.
02:54The rear seat conversion is about Ā£4,500 plus.
02:58And how many people go for the rear seat conversion?
03:00If we sell 10 110 hardtops, I'd say probably nine go for the rear seat conversion.
03:04What engine is under the bonnet?
03:06So this is a D250. Obviously, they can come as a D300, which is a 300 brake horsepower.
03:10This is a D250, which is...
03:11Is that a 4-cylinder?
03:12No, it's still the 3-litre 6-cylinder.
03:15OK, right. So pretty impressive. But I think we need to move to...
03:18Is that a bit of you, is it? You need some performance.
03:20I need more power. Let's get the next car in, which has...
03:23I've got something just for you.
03:25So Lenny, now we have a different car, which actually has pretty much the same body kit on it.
03:30But because it hasn't got that wrap...
03:31It looks very different, doesn't it?
03:33Way different. In fact, I think your body kit and everything just stands out a lot more on this darker car without the wrap, doesn't it?
03:40I think the wrap takes your eyes towards the wrap rather than what we've actually done.
03:45But this is obviously in the stunning Carpathian grey, Carpathian metallic grey, which I think looks lovely against all the contrast gloss black,
03:51especially around the wider arches, the canards, the squared DRLs.
03:55Also, underneath there...
03:57This is a bit more you, isn't it?
03:58Yes. 5-litre supercharged V8, not a diesel. Yes.
04:02And it sounds like the SVR, which is the great thing.
04:05You remember the 2016, 2017 SVR, the pops and bangs, the really loud...
04:09Well, get on to that in a moment.
04:10OK, I'm getting ahead of myself.
04:12Because we are going to have a listen to this.
04:14Anyway, so around the front, it's the same pretty much as before, but obviously looking different because we've got this beautiful paintwork here rather than the wrap.
04:21Wheels are bigger, though, right?
04:22Yes. So because this is the performance model, we've gone for 23-inch Urban UC1 alloys.
04:27But it's the same. We've got the light bar, we've got the running boards, the mud flaps.
04:31It is the same, but yet looks different.
04:33When people get you to do this, how does it work?
04:35So we buy cars in the trade, used vehicles, six months old.
04:38We then kit them up so people can buy an Urban vehicle from us.
04:41Or if you have a new vehicle like this, for example, this is a customer's car.
04:44They've waited the nine months, 12 months from Land Rover.
04:47They've booked it in with us.
04:49They've had the Urban kit fitted and now it's ready to go.
04:52So how many miles has this got in it?
04:53This is new, so this is delivery miles, so about 50.
04:56They brought it straight from the dealership.
04:57I'm going to drive this car, though.
04:59Yes, so we've got special permission from the customer, who's a bit of a fan.
05:03Thank you very much for letting me drive your car.
05:05Hopefully, I'm not going to crash it and I don't curb the wheels.
05:07We're going to do a little segment where we see how close I can get to the curb without actually curbing them.
05:11We'll replace the fuel as well. We'll replace the fuel.
05:13Do you know what? These are way more practical than the old Defenders.
05:16In fact, they're so practical, you can fit an old Defender in the boot of a new Defender.
05:19Come and have a look at this. Look, look, look.
05:21Ah, right, OK.
05:22Hey, look at this.
05:23Right, so look at that.
05:24Look at that.
05:25I told you.
05:26I told you you could.
05:27We've got a Lego Heritage Defender. Very cool.
05:31Let me tell you about this. It's really, really quite nice.
05:33To celebrate 75 years of Land Rover, the Lego Group has released this.
05:37The Lego Icons Classic Land Rover Defender 90.
05:41So in this box, there are 2,336 pieces of Lego, which you then build up into this wonderful thing here.
05:51So let me show you a bit about it.
05:53We've got doors that open, steering that actually steers the wheels, and suspension that works.
06:01So this Classic Land Rover Defender 90 is in the Expedition configuration.
06:05So I've got a roof rack on it. I've got things like jerry cans.
06:08I've got a fire extinguisher, shovel on the bonnet, a snorkel.
06:12But if you want to have it more looking like a road-ready version, you can then build it up like this.
06:17So without those parts, it's all included in the box.
06:20Now, the Lego Icons Classic Land Rover Defender 90 is available via Lego stores or www.lego.com.
06:27Alternatively, just follow the link in my description or pinned comment.
06:31So another thing that you can do with this is fit it with either a diesel engine, which is what this one has fitted to it,
06:36but also included in the box is a V8 engine.
06:39Speaking of V8 engines, let's have a listen to a Land Rover V8.
06:51And more!
06:59Wow!
07:00Finally then, Lenny, we come to what you guys at Urban see as the ultimate incarnation of a Land Rover Defender.
07:06So it's the XRS. Tell me about this. What is it?
07:09So this is our flagship model, limited to 65 builds.
07:12We've been doing these for about nine months now.
07:15We've sold maybe half the allocations, but the customer gets to choose the number out of the 65.
07:21This one in particular is number 12.
07:23What happens if the number you want is already gone?
07:26And it did just happen. I sold a car to a very, very famous footballer that I won't mention,
07:31but he obviously wanted his shirt number.
07:33Unfortunately, it had already been taken, so he chose his birthday instead.
07:37Why don't you tell the guy that had the number, the footballer, that this guy was after it,
07:41and then he could have sold his car for overs, and you could have acted as middleman.
07:44Actually, that's not a bad shout. I should have...
07:46Are you a salesman?
07:47Right, I need you as a business manager now, Len.
07:49Right. OK, so you've got a number. So this is number 12?
07:52This is number 12 out of the 65.
07:54And the design is, once again, quite similar to what we've seen before, but we've got carbon fibre bits here.
07:59Exposed carbon. So these are based on the five litre V8 supercharged again, so we're only building them on the V8.
08:04So this is a lot more sporty than the van.
08:06You may notice as well we haven't gone for a roof light bar on this, so it gives that more smoother look.
08:10But yeah, same kit, but the biggest difference on these is the carbon fibre bonnet.
08:15Not for weight saving, obviously, because it's a big 2.2 tonne vehicle.
08:19So it is for looks, it is for looks.
08:21You've got the recessed lettering into the bonnet there, which is a nice feature.
08:25Exposed carbon vents. So yeah, it just looks really cool. Really cool and aggressive.
08:29But let's have a look at it actually on the inside, because I want to see the carbon.
08:32You want to see the carbon?
08:33Yeah, you've got to pop the bonnet.
08:34I'll let you open it, because I'll make it...
08:35You don't want to get your hands dirty.
08:36No, it's not that. It's more the fact that I probably won't find the actual release.
08:39I could never find the release.
08:41Urban is known for carbon fibre. It looks cool. We can leave it exposed.
08:45It's just a very strong material, and we're known for our carbon.
08:50So if you want, you can have that exposed?
08:52If you wanted to.
08:53It's a bit more expensive, right?
08:54Yes.
08:55And that brings me on to the cost, right.
08:56So the two vehicles that we've seen so far, the upgrades, if you took your Land Rover into you guys, it's about, what, Ā£20,000, Ā£25,000?
09:02About that, including that, yeah.
09:03This one...
09:04Ā£50,000 plus the VAT.
09:06So these are our 23-inch XRS alloys.
09:10I like these ones.
09:11They're very, very cool.
09:12I prefer them than the other V8.
09:13Yeah, so we've obviously got what we call the turbo ring around the side of the alloy, around the rim. They look fantastic.
09:19Oh, you've got XRS little badging on the...
09:21The attention to detail on this car.
09:23You see the calipers?
09:24Oh, yeah. Urban, nice.
09:25Carbon side vents as well.
09:27Essential bit of weight saving, once again.
09:29Again, it's not weight saving. It's to make it look cool. Same with the wing mirror caps as well.
09:33These are slightly different running boards, aren't they?
09:34Slightly different design on the side steps.
09:36You've got your Urban badge up there as well.
09:38Exposed carbon rear spoiler with the XRS brand in there.
09:41Yeah, so does this really help the downforce on this vehicle?
09:44Yeah.
09:47Big thing on this, though, is on the inside, so let's check that out.
09:50So in here, Lenny, it's very much a Land Rover Defender, but it's been enhanced somewhat.
09:54And the thing that I'm noticing straight away, the seats.
09:57We've got bucket seats, mate.
09:58But they're very comfortable, though, aren't they?
10:00They are very, very comfortable.
10:02So we've used Porsche Macan bases and then a Recaro CS Sportstar top.
10:07So you've got the best of both.
10:09It holds you in position, but you're still comfortable.
10:11And it still uses the heating and cooling elements as well.
10:14They do feel really comfortable, and the quality of the leather is really nice.
10:18And they look the business.
10:19They look fantastic.
10:20It sort of reminds me of the seats in the Range Rover Sport SVR.
10:22But you've got them here in the Defender.
10:24Exactly, yeah.
10:25And then, obviously, there's some other changes.
10:26Talk me through all the other bits and pieces.
10:29A lot more chunky.
10:30Bigger grip.
10:31Wait a minute.
10:32That's a bit too BMW-y.
10:33You don't like a big steering wheel?
10:34I don't like a fat steering wheel.
10:36It's because you're more like a racing driver.
10:38It's because they're good little, little dainty hands.
10:41Yeah, so we quite like a big, chunky steering wheel.
10:43We've got Urban XRS in the middle of the airbag there.
10:45Carbon fibre.
10:46Carbon fibre.
10:47More carbon fibre.
10:48You've got a special plate down here, which is to say which number you have out of the 65.
10:52I'm seeing the XRS floor mats as well.
10:54XRS floor mats.
10:55You've got leather trim on the dash.
10:57Yeah, that's nice, that is.
10:58Carbon interior centre console as well.
11:01And red stitching.
11:02And red stitching to match through, even down to the bolts in the door cards at Urban XRS.
11:06Which say Urban on them.
11:08Yes.
11:09Nice.
11:10Nice.
11:11But my favourite part of this interior is actually in the back.
11:14Let me guess then, Lenny.
11:15The best thing about being in the back is that there's this little XRS badge in there.
11:18Well, that's a nice little feature.
11:19Is it?
11:20Okay, okay, okay.
11:21Is it the fact that you always get the red stitching back here?
11:23Also nice.
11:24And Urban floor mats back here as well?
11:25Of course, yeah.
11:26So it's all very much like the front really, isn't it?
11:28So, yeah.
11:31Okay, I'm being stupid.
11:33That is cool.
11:34Really cool.
11:35Yeah, I like that a lot.
11:36Actually, as well, do you know what?
11:37They give you more knee room.
11:38The carbon fibre buckets, because they're like thinner backed, you have more knee room.
11:42It makes sense.
11:43It's from a practical point of view.
11:44Nothing to do with the aesthetics.
11:46But how cool is that?
11:47It looks lovely, doesn't it?
11:48Yeah, I like that a lot.
11:49I like that a lot.
11:50This is a special Land Rover Defender, isn't it?
11:53But do you know what I'd like to see?
11:54I'd like to see how you guys actually build these cars.
11:56This is Sean.
11:57So Sean does some of the fitting.
11:59And what we have here is a scuttle from the car, which has been painted black to go with the black grille.
12:06Right, so I'm going to fit it.
12:08So if I scratch it, what are we going to do?
12:11We'll repaint it.
12:12Oh, okay.
12:13It's fine.
12:14I'm sure it's not fine.
12:15Right.
12:16Okay, got to get the stalky bit through the hole.
12:19That's obviously the windscreen wipers.
12:21To me.
12:22To you.
12:23And we have touchdown.
12:24Look at that.
12:25I don't think I've got this quite in.
12:27I don't want to force it, Sean.
12:28I might force it, Sean.
12:29Don't break it.
12:30That's it.
12:31Just like that.
12:32There we go.
12:33So, Sean, your job is so easy, mate.
12:35Look at that.
12:36Look at that.
12:37So if you're buying a white and black Defender from Urban, I might have just devalued your vehicle.
12:45Sorry.
12:46Right then, Lenny.
12:47Here we are driving the V8 Land Rover Defender.
12:50First thing I'm going to do.
12:55And that's why I came this route.
12:57To hear it under that bridge.
12:59Wow.
13:00How much difference does that exhaust make?
13:02And do you know what?
13:03I had that in just normal mode.
13:04Yeah.
13:05It gets louder, doesn't it, in dynamic?
13:06It does in dynamic mode, yeah.
13:07Let's go into dynamic and give that another little go.
13:09That's it.
13:10Obviously, there's no bridge this time, but...
13:12That's how the 5-litre V8 supercharged engine should sound.
13:16It's so good, isn't it?
13:17Yeah.
13:18It's worth it for the exhaust alone, isn't it?
13:20Yeah, absolutely.
13:21And what's nice about this is it's...
13:23Sorry, I've got to do it again.
13:24No, that's addictive.
13:25Yeah.
13:26It's addictive.
13:27What were you saying?
13:28Sorry.
13:29Sorry.
13:30Sorry.
13:31I'm sure your audience would rather hear that anyway than me waffle.
13:34Yeah, try again.
13:35So what I was going to say...
13:36No.
13:37No.
13:38Okay, fine.
13:40We all love the Range Rover SVR, don't we?
13:42We all love that car.
13:43And this is kind of like the best of both.
13:45If you want the ruggedness of the Defender,
13:47but the performance of a Range Rover SVR,
13:49V8 Defender is the one, isn't it?
13:51It really is good.
13:52I've not actually driven one on the road.
13:54I've driven one on the drag strip.
13:56I've launched it and stuff.
13:57And we'll do that in a moment.
13:58Okay.
14:02So you get the squat on acceleration,
14:04but you'll notice when you go around corners,
14:06roundabouts, it does stay quite flat in the corners.
14:09It's a really, really, really cool car.
14:11Let's just check out the handling here.
14:13Whoa, look at that.
14:14Whoa, whoa, whoa.
14:15Did you get a bit nervy there?
14:16No, I'm not a bad passenger.
14:18Even when driven by an idiot.
14:20Do you know what's surprising me?
14:22I thought those big alloys would knacker the ride.
14:24No, no.
14:25They're still a good 35 profile tyre.
14:27It's fine?
14:28Yeah.
14:29Driving-wise, it doesn't feel any different than,
14:31I suppose, standard, really.
14:33The wheels don't affect it.
14:34Well, the air suspension sorts out most of the bumps
14:36in the road anyway.
14:37Yeah, it's good.
14:38Good quality alloy, good quality tyre.
14:40You're not going to notice too much difference.
14:42Look at this.
14:43Oh.
14:48Yeah, it's good.
14:49Do you know what, Lenny?
14:50I'm liking this car a lot more than I thought I would.
14:52I knew I'd like it, but I think I love it.
14:54Really?
14:55Yeah, I'll tell you why.
14:56It reminds me of my G-Wagon.
14:58It reminds me of my G-Wagon.
15:00It reminds me of my G-Wagon.
15:02I had a G-Wagon.
15:03Loved the performance, loved the noise.
15:05This actually sounds better, and it's more comfortable
15:08because it's got a normal monocoque chassis
15:10rather than a ladder frame like the G-Wagon.
15:12The G-Wagon's always a little bit twitchy, isn't it?
15:14Very twitchy, yeah.
15:15This just feels...
15:16This is more car-like,
15:18but you still have that beautiful raised driving position.
15:21Air suspension versus shocks and springs as well.
15:23Yeah.
15:24Oh, I love air suspension, me.
15:25Oh, I love a bit of air.
15:26Listen, Lenny, I just want to say a huge thank you to you
15:28for showing me around your cars.
15:30Let me drive this one in particular.
15:31It's been a huge blast, and it sounds amazing.
15:34Now, if you want to check out some more videos from Urban Automotive,
15:38then just check out their YouTube channel, right?
15:40So we've got lots of different cars and builds that they've done,
15:43plus you'll see some stuff behind the scenes,
15:45like Lenny actually doing his normal day job
15:47rather than having to put up with me.
15:49I do actually have a job.
15:50You do have a job, and it's very interesting.
15:52So make sure you go check out their YouTube channel.
15:58Urban Automotive