Unlike a Jeep or Range Rover, the Ickx K2 uses a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, and there are no other options.
It produces a meager 159 horsepower but a useful 280 lb-ft for off-roading. The engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic, and the SUV rides on 20-inch wheels. Inside, there’s a leather interior with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, along with a removable hard top.
Unfortunately, we have some experience with this car, albeit in BAIC (pronounced bike) BJ40 format. A trip to South Africa, which is a huge market for Chinese vehicles, happened to coincide with the BJ’s launch. Apart from trying not to burst out laughing every time someone called it the BJ, the car lacked any refinement or what we know as handling. The turbo lag was terrible, and the delay could be counted in seconds.
We don’t think the Italians will spend $60k on this. We checked, and you can have a real Defender for less. However, it will be interesting to see how this copyright infringement on wheels lasts in a country with harsh patent and trademark laws.