Both Land Rover Defender 90 and Lexus LC500 Go V-8-Only for 2026
This raises the two-door Defender's base price from $58,750 last year to $116,250 for 2026.
Similarly, Lexus's beautiful coupe is now only sold as the V-8-powered LC500 for 2026, with the slow-selling LC500h V-6 hybrid no longer available.
Despite an influx of electric and hybrid offerings, the V-8 engine isn't dead just yet. In fact, for two vehicles, the V-8 powertrain is the only one to survive for the 2026 model year. The two-door Land Rover Defender 90 drops both its four-cylinder and six-cylinder setups, entering 2026 exclusively with a supercharged V-8. Similarly, Lexus is ditching the hybrid V-6 found in the LC500h, leaving the LC500's 5.0-liter V-8 as the sole engine choice in Lexus's elegant GT car for 2026.
Two Doors and Plenty of Power
The Defender 90 had previously been offered with three powertrains, starting with the 296-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder in the base S trim. The X-Dynamic SE trim brought a 395-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six that was augmented by an electric supercharger and a 48-volt hybrid system. The Defender 90 V8 served as the two-door range-topper, but it now represents the only way to get the stubbier 90 model for 2026, a Land Rover spokesperson confirmed to Car and Driver.
Land Rover
This move significantly raises the base price for the Defender 90. Previously, pricing began at $58,750 for the S trim, with the X-Dynamic SE ringing in at $70,350. Now, getting into a Defender 90 will require quite a bit more coin, with the V8 model starting at $116,250 for the 2026 model year. That's $57,500 more than last year's base price, meaning the entry cost for a two-door Defender is now almost double the amount needed to buy a 2025 Defender 90 S.
Along with reworking the Defender 90's lineup, Land Rover also gave its boxy off-roader some upgrades for 2026. The most notable visual change is in the headlights, where the two LED tabs in the top outside corner are now filled in instead of an outline. Inside, all Defenders now feature a 13.1-inch touchscreen.
Goodbye, Hybrid
Meanwhile, over at Lexus, the brand's beautiful coupe and convertible carry over for 2026 with minimal changes, except that you can now only buy the LC with the naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8. The LC500h, which had a 354-hp hybrid setup that paired a 3.5-liter V-6 with two electric motors, is no more, a Lexus spokesperson confirmed.
Lexus
Most shoppers won't notice, however, as the LC500h has been a blip on the radar. In 2024, Lexus sold just 18 LC hybrids, compared to 1446 LC500s with a V-8 engine. That skewed ratio wasn't a one-off, with only 37 hybrids finding homes in 2023, versus 1724 V-8 models. The LC500h totaled 19 sales in 2022, 14 in 2021, 14 in 2020, and 37 in 2019.
Other than discontinuing the LC500h, it's business as usual for the LC500. There's a new iteration of the Inspiration Series for the 2026 coupe, limited to 200 units and sporting a new color (Smoke Matte Gray) paired with a black-and-white interior. The 2026 LC500 convertible gets its own Inspiration Series, capped at 350 units and featuring a new color called Wind with Saddle Tan and white seats. The 2026 LC500 coupe starts at $101,700, while the convertible will require $109,200.
Caleb Miller
Associate News Editor
Caleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
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