ECD Unleashes Its Most Powerful Defender Yet
This engine isn't a gimmick. It's a direct result of client demand—bringing together decades of LS-based experience, clever integration, and the visceral performance that discerning buyers crave. With the first client Defender build already in production, the 700HP option sets a new benchmark for what's possible in a luxury SUV rooted in heritage but built for today.
'We've worked with LS-based platforms for years, so this evolution felt natural,' said Elliot Humble, Co-Founder and Head of Engineering at ECD. 'The real work was in smart packaging—integrating the supercharger, updating the front-end assembly, adding cooling, and upgrading the drivetrain to handle the torque. The fun part is, it looks like a classic Defender—but it drives like nothing else.'
A Power-First, Client-Driven Evolution
Rather than reinventing the wheel, ECD built on a trusted foundation—leveraging their extensive experience with LS-based drivetrains to offer an even more thrilling option for clients who want the feel of a classic with the power of a modern supercar.
Key upgrades for the 700+ HP configuration include:
New front-end rotating assembly to house the integrated supercharger
Enhanced cooling systems to manage added thermal load
Upgraded transmission, transfer case, and differentials to handle the increased torque
Refined ECU tuning and throttle mapping to maintain smooth drivability
Every ECD build is handcrafted, and now clients who want a Defender—or a Range Rover Classic—with untamed acceleration and unmistakable sound have a new option that fits seamlessly into the company's bespoke process.
Designed for Drivers Who Want More
This offering is tailor-made for the client who wants to turn up the volume on an already bold design. Whether it's cruising coastal highways or stealing the spotlight at a private collection, the 700HP Defender or Range Rover Classic adds American muscle to British heritage in a way that feels both timeless and thrillingly modern.
'It's not about chasing numbers,' added Humble. 'It's about giving clients the freedom to dream—and then making those dreams driveable. This engine is just another example of how we listen, evolve, and deliver.'
Now Available for New Builds
The 700HP BLUEPRINT engine is now available for Defender 90, 110, and 130 commissions—as well as Range Rover Classic builds. With the first vehicle already on the production line, this new option is expected to become a favorite among performance-focused collectors and luxury clients alike.
View images of the Blueprint engine being installed
About ECD Auto DesignECD, a public company trading under ECDA on the Nasdaq, is a creator of restored luxury vehicles that combines classic beauty with modern performance. Currently, ECD restores Land Rovers Series, Land Rover Series IIA, the Range Rover Classic, Jaguar E-Type, Ford Mustang, Toyota FJ, and highly specialized vehicles from its Boutique Studio. Each vehicle produced by ECD is fully bespoke, a one-off that is designed by the client through an immersive luxury design experience and hand-built from the ground up in 2,200 hours by master-certified Automotive Service Excellence ('ASE') craftsmen. The company was founded in 2013 by three British 'gear heads' whose passion for classic vehicles is the driving force behind exceptionally high standards for quality, custom luxury vehicles. ECD's global headquarters, is a 100,000-square-foot facility located in Kissimmee, Florida that is home to 105 talented and dedicated employees that hold combined 80 ASE and five master level certifications. ECD has an affiliated logistics center in the U.K. where its seven employees work to source and transport 25-year-old work vehicles back to the U.S. for restoration. For more information, visit www.ecdautodesign.com.
Media Contact: Kevin KastnerChief Revenue Officerkastnerk@ecdautodesign.com407-738-1056
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a4fbef25-f03f-4c8e-9dbc-389ca08e11ed
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Barclays bullish on Kimco, Federal Realty as it launches coverage of retail REITs
-- Barclays starts coverage of retail REITs, rating Kimco Realty (NYSE:KIM) and Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE:FRT) Overweight while it was Equal weight on Regency Centers (NASDAQ:REG), Phillips Edison, Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG) and Tanger. The brokerage said investors appear to be overpaying for the perceived defensiveness of certain grocery‑anchored portfolios, yet Kimco itself offers a cheaper way to own that theme. Barclays said New York‑based landlord is a large cap, high‑quality, diversified 'proxy' for grocery‑anchored shopping centers, trading at a modest discount to peers and set for about 5% funds‑from‑operations (FFO) growth next year. Federal Realty, whose high‑end shopping districts span U.S. coastal markets, has lagged rivals since the pandemic but is shifting capital toward lower‑risk acquisitions and more modest redevelopments, the note said. While Regency, Phillips Edison, Simon and Tanger all look fairly valued, the broker wrote. Regency carries a three‑turn premium to the sector on forward FFO, Phillips Edison still trades above peers despite shrinking returns on recent acquisitions, and both Simon and Tanger face apparel‑heavy tenant rosters that could be squeezed further if tariffs rise. Barclays' sector outlook favours companies with strong balance sheets and improving free‑cash‑flow profiles, and is wary of REITs chasing FFO growth through acquisitions after a sharp compression in shopping‑center cap rates. While consumer spending and tariff risks loom, Kimco and Federal Realty still screen as the best risk‑reward ideas in a retail landscape adjusting to slower economic growth. Investors, the bank cautioned, should remember that 'investors may be overpaying for the perceived defensiveness of certain grocery‑anchored portfolios.' Related articles Barclays bullish on Kimco, Federal Realty as it launches coverage of retail REITs Roblox: What's behind the meteoric rise of 'Grow a Garden' Quantum Computing started at Neutral on steep valuation, slow commercialization Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Got $200? 2 Biotech Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever
Good news for investors: You don't have to start out with tons of cash to grow wealth. Biotech stocks offer you a great opportunity to get in on innovators that may produce major growth down the road. 10 stocks we like better than Viking Therapeutics › Some potential investors hesitate to get started on building an investment portfolio because they think they need thousands of dollars to grow wealth. But I've got good news for them and for you: You don't have to start out with a huge pile of cash to invest in stocks that may significantly add value to your portfolio over time. In fact, with just $200, you can get in on players that could help you along the path to wealth. The industry of biotech is a great place to look for such stocks since so many of these companies are developing cutting-edge technologies that may lead to high-growth products, and revenue, down the road. Let's consider two that you might buy today -- a few shares of each for a total of $200 -- and hold forever to benefit from lasting growth stories. Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ: VKTX) aims to make its mark in one of today's (and tomorrow's) biggest healthcare growth areas: weight loss drugs. The biotech company is developing a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, known as VK2735, and has progressed into late-stage clinical trials. The candidate, in injectable form, just launched its phase 3 program and aims to enroll more than 4,000 participants with obesity and more than 1,000 volunteers with obesity and type 2 diabetes. VK2735 works by interacting with hormonal pathways involved in the control of appetite and blood sugar levels, much like the already commercialized Mounjaro and Zepbound, sold by Eli Lilly, and Ozempic and Wegovy, sold by Novo Nordisk. But the fact that similar drugs have reached the market first doesn't mean Viking can't succeed here. Demand for these sorts of products has been so high that it exceeded supply, until Lilly and Novo Nordisk increased manufacturing capacity. So there's plenty of room for a young company like Viking to succeed here too if all continues to go well in clinical trials. Viking also is testing VK2735 in oral form in a phase 2 trial, an important point since oral formulation could make these drugs easier to take, and it involves faster and cheaper manufacturing processes for the company. Data from that trial is expected later this year. Viking stock is known to soar on positive results. It surged more than 120% last year in just one trading session after reporting positive phase 2 data for VK2735. It's since given up the gains, offering investors a solid entry point, but any good news and a possible regulatory nod could prompt the stock to skyrocket. Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA) used to be a favorite of investors during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic -- but since, it's had trouble bringing investors back into its potential growth story. The stock has lost more than 90% since its peak back in 2021, and the company has reported decreasing sales because of the drop in demand for its coronavirus vaccine and lower-than-expected sales of its more recently launched respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine. After Moderna's billions of dollars in revenue and profit just a couple of years ago and recent earnings declines, investors may find it difficult to get excited about Moderna again. But it's important to remember two things: First, it's unfair to compare revenue potential during ordinary times to revenue linked to a pandemic-related product. Those were exceptional times that don't occur often. Second, the approval of Moderna's coronavirus and RSV vaccines show that its technology -- the technology driving the rest of its pipeline -- works. The company now has many late-stage products in the works and aims to launch as many as 10 over the next few years. If Moderna even makes it partially to that goal, its revenue picture a few years from now may look very different from the picture today -- and set the company up for long-term growth. It's too early to predict when the market will recognize this and flock to Moderna shares. But at today's level, the stock offers investors a buying opportunity, making it a great place to park part of your $200 and hold on for the long-term as this growth story develops. Before you buy stock in Viking Therapeutics, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Viking Therapeutics wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $713,547!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $966,931!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,062% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 177% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 30, 2025 Adria Cimino has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Moderna, Novo Nordisk, and Viking Therapeutics. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Got $200? 2 Biotech Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Insider
31 minutes ago
- Business Insider
What top people in media and politics are saying about Paramount's settlement with Trump
The worlds of media and politics are buzzing about Paramount's settlement with President Donald Trump. Media giant Paramount said late Tuesday that it had agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit brought by Trump over a "60 Minutes" segment that aired last fall. The lawsuit alleged the CBS News show had selectively edited an interview with Trump rival Kamala Harris. The proposed settlement, which did not include an apology from Paramount, will be allocated to Trump's future presidential library, the company said. Paramount is awaiting government approval of its planned merger with David Ellison's Skydance Media. The company said the settlement was "completely separate from, and unrelated to, the Skydance transaction." Paramount said companies often settle lawsuits to avoid costly, unpredictable legal battles, potential reputational or financial harm, and business disruptions, and move forward without prolonged uncertainty. A spokesperson for Trump's legal team called the settlement "another win for the American people." "CBS and Paramount Global realized the strength of this historic case and had no choice but to settle," the spokesperson said. (You can find the full statements from Paramount and the Trump team at the end of this story.) Here's what big names in media and politics have been saying in reaction to the Paramount-Trump settlement news: Tina Brown, former editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker: "It's a shakedown, isn't it — it's on Shari Redstone's neck. She can't close the deal without it. It's a tragedy that something as important and serious and meaningful as CBS News is sort of being traded away for this shakedown. "I'd like to think [former Washington Post publisher] Katharine Graham wouldn't have done it. We don't know anything about Ellison. He might be a terrific supporter of newsgathering, but one has become pessimistic with these issues." Sen. Elizabeth Warren: "With Paramount folding to Donald Trump at the same time the company needs his administration's approval for its billion-dollar merger, this could be bribery in plain sight. Paramount has refused to provide answers to a congressional inquiry, so I'm calling for a full investigation into whether or not any anti-bribery laws were broken. "This settlement exposes a glaring need for rules to restrict donations to sitting presidents' libraries. I will soon introduce new legislation to rein in corruption through presidential library donations. The Trump administration's level of sheer corruption is appalling and Paramount should be ashamed of putting its profits over independent journalism." Marty Baron, former Washington Post executive editor: "Assuming the merger gets approved, the bigger issue will be the posture of new owners toward '60 Minutes' and really all of CBS News. I would hope for respect for the network's heritage, as well as a pledge of journalistic independence and proof that they will honor it. The early indicators aren't all that encouraging." Tim Richardson, journalism and disinformation program director at PEN America: "Paramount's decision to settle a meritless lawsuit rather than stand behind its journalists at CBS News is a spineless capitulation. "This was a moment to defend press freedom and support reporters targeted by a frivolous legal attack. Instead, Paramount chose appeasement to bolster its finances, sending a dangerous message that media outlets can be pressured into submission if corporate parents find their profits at risk from government action in unrelated areas. "With two major network owners bowing to the president in quick succession, the danger is clear: emboldened politicians and powerful actors will feel more free than ever to weaponize lawsuits and bring regulatory pressure to bear to silence and censor independent journalism." Raymond James analysts Ric Prentiss and Brent Penter (in a note to clients): "Now with the lawsuit settled, we believe the FCC is poised to approve the PARA/Skydance deal, and we feel the deal can close within a couple of weeks after FCC approval. "Our expectation has been a closing (with no material changes to terms) after 1H25 but still in the summer, and we feel that continues to be the case. We think companies, and especially CFOs, like to close deals on the first day of a month (with the first day of a quarter even more preferred, but missed 7/1 in this case). And we expect PARA to be ready to close this chapter of its story soon." Peter Kafka, Business Insider's chief correspondent: "This is the deal we thought we'd see back in January: A Trump-friendly media mogul agrees to pay him millions of dollars, so she can sell her company to a Trump-backing tech mogul. "On the one hand, you can squint and argue that Paramount is a winner here because it didn't have to give up more — like a public apology for something it didn't do. All it had to do is fork over the now-standard payment for media and tech companies that want to operate in Trump 2.0. "On the other hand: These corporate payoffs to the president of the United States should be shocking. My worry is that we're just a few months into this, and we've already accepted them as normal." Clayton Weimers, executive director of Reporters without Borders USA: "This is a shameful decision by Paramount. Shari Redstone and Paramount's board should have stood by CBS journalists and the integrity of press freedom. Instead, they chose to reward Donald Trump for his petty legal assault against both. A line is being drawn between the owners of American news media who are willing to stand up for press freedom and those who capitulate to the demands of the president. "Today, Paramount's leaders chose to be on the wrong side of that dividing line, but they'd be mistaken to believe appeasing Trump today will stop his attacks in the future. News media owners are much better off standing strong than acquiescing." Jeff Greenfield, former CBS senior political correspondent, on X: "Will this encourage politicians and others to file bogus lawsuits [a]s a way of intimidating news organizations and their corporate boards? Will the correspondents and producers of "60 Minutes" see this as a corporate betrayal of the program in service to a multi billion dollar merger? (Answers to both questions: YES.)" Sen. Bernie Sanders: "The decision by the Redstone family, the major owners of Paramount, to settle a bogus lawsuit with President Trump over a 60 Minutes report he did not like is an extremely dangerous precedent in terms of both the first amendment and government extortion. "Paramount's decision will only embolden Trump to continue attacking, suing and intimidating the media which he has labeled 'the enemy of the people.' It is a dark day for independent journalism and freedom of the press - an essential part of our democracy. It is a victory for a president who is attempting to stifle dissent and undermine American democracy. "It's pretty obvious why Paramount chose to surrender to Trump. The Redstone family is in line to receive $2.4 billion from the sale of Paramount to Skydance, but they can only receive this money if the Trump administration approves this deal. In other words, the Redstone family diminished the freedom of the press today in exchange for a $2.4 billion payday. "Make no mistake about it. Trump is undermining our democracy and rapidly moving us towards authoritarianism and the billionaires who care more about their stock portfolios than our democracy are helping him do it. That is beyond unacceptable." Jonathan Miller, chief executive of Integrated Media, which specializes in digital media investments: "The fact there was no apology was good, and it makes sense in the grand scheme of things in what they have to do. It's pretty hard to escape the idea that it's political. The Ellisons stayed away from any political statement during the whole process — now we'll see what they do. And there's obviously a job open at CBS News they'll have to fill." Rome Hartman, veteran former '60 Minutes' producer, including on the Kamala Harris segment: "This settlement is a cowardly capitulation by the corporate leaders of Paramount, and a fundamental betrayal of '60 Minutes' and CBS News. The story that was the subject of this lawsuit was edited by the book and in accordance with CBS News standards. Our corporate bosses know that; they know that this lawsuit is completely baseless. But they settled it in order to preserve Shari Redstone's payday. That is shameful." John Harwood, veteran White House correspondent: "It's hard to say which is worse: the craven surrender by a media company that did nothing wrong, the betrayal of one of our finest news outlets, or the lawless extortion by the President of the United States. that it all happened in broad daylight is an appalling measure of the damage Trump has inflicted." Full Paramount and Trump team statements: Here's Paramount Global's statement: "Companies often settle litigation to avoid the high and somewhat unpredictable costs of legal defense, the risk of an adverse judgment that could result in significant financial or reputational damage, and the disruption to business operations that prolonged legal battles can cause. Settlement offers a negotiated resolution that allows companies to focus on their core objectives rather than being mired in uncertainty and distraction." And here's Trump's legal team's: "With this record settlement, President Donald J. Trump delivers another win for the American people as he, once again, holds the Fake News media accountable for their wrongdoing and deceit. CBS and Paramount Global realized the strength of this historic case and had no choice but to settle. President Trump will always ensure that no one gets away with lying to the American People as he continues on his singular mission to Make America Great Again."
