An Icon Reimagined
After years of anticipation and speculation, the all-new next-generation Land Rover Defender has finally been unveiled.
Oct 30, 2019
Proven in the harshest environments on earth across seven decades and completely reimagined for the 21st Century, Land Rover says the new Defender is clever, capable and safe for all the family, and in a category of its own.
Iconic in name, shape and capability, the new Defender can also be personalised to allow owners to make the most of this very definition of durability.
The Defender 110 is just the start for this new-look family of capable and durable 4x4s. Its highly anticipated arrival will be swiftly followed by a compact, short wheelbase Defender 90.
Proven in the harshest environments on earth across seven decades and completely reimagined for the 21st Century, Land Rover says the new Defender is clever, capable and safe for all the family, and in a category of its own. Iconic in name, shape and capability, the new Defender can also be personalised to allow owners to make the most of this very definition of durability.
A distinctive silhouette makes the new Defender instantly recognisable, with minimal front and rear overhangs providing excellent approach and departure angles. Land Rover’s designers re-envisioned familiar Defender trademarks for the 21st Century, giving the new 4x4 a familiar upright stance and Alpine light windows in the roof, while retaining the side-hinged rear tailgate and externally mounted spare wheel that made the original so identifiable.
The stripped-back personality of the original Defender has been embraced inside, where structural elements and fixings usually hidden from view have been exposed, with the emphasis on simplicity and practicality. Innovative features include a dash-mounted gear shifter to accommodate an optional central front ‘jump’ seat, which provides three-abreast seating across the front like early Land Rovers.
As a result, the Defender 110 offers five, six or 5+2 seating configurations, with a loadspace behind the second-row seats of up to 1,075-litres, and as much as 2,380-litres when the second row is folded. The Defender 90 will be able to accommodate six occupants in a vehicle the length of a compact family hatchback.
Land Rover’s new purpose-engineered D7x (for extreme) architecture is based on a lightweight aluminium monocoque construction to create the stiffest body structure Land Rover has ever produced. It’s three times stiffer than traditional body-on-frame designs, providing perfect foundations for the fully independent air or coil-sprung suspension and supports the latest electrified powertrains.
The new Defender has been through more than 62,000 tests for engineering sign-off, while the chassis and body architecture have been engineered to withstand Land Rover’s Extreme Event Test procedure – repeated and sustained impacts, above and beyond the normal standard for SUV and passenger cars.
During development testing, prototype models have covered millions of kilometres across some of the harshest environments on earth, ranging from the 50-degree heat of the desert and sub-40-degree cold of the Arctic to altitudes of 10,000ft in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
Permanent all-wheel drive and a twin-speed automatic gearbox, centre differential and optional Active Locking Rear Differential ensure it has all the hardware required to excel in soft sand, freezing tundra, and everywhere in between.
Configurable Terrain Response debuts on the new Defender too, allowing experienced off-roaders to fine-tune individual vehicle settings to perfectly suit the conditions. Alternatively, inexperienced off-roaders can let the system detect the most appropriate vehicle settings for the terrain, using the intelligent Auto function.
The new body architecture provides ground clearance of 291mm and world-class off-road geometry, giving the 110 approach, breakover and departure angles of 38, 28 and 40 degrees (Off-Road height) respectively. Its maximum wading depth of 900mm is supported by a new Wade programme in the Terrain Response 2 system, which ensures drivers can ford deep water with complete confidence.
On dry land, Land Rover’s advanced ClearSight Ground View technology helps drivers take full advantage of Defender’s all-conquering capability by showing the area usually hidden by the bonnet, directly ahead of the front wheels, on the central touchscreen.
A choice of advanced petrol and cleaner diesel engines ensure new Defender has the power, control and efficiency for any environment, while a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) powertrain will join the range next year providing the prospect of silent EV-only progress.
At launch, the petrol line-up features a powerful six-cylinder P400, featuring efficient Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle technology. Alternatively, customers can choose from a pair of four-cylinder diesels – the D200 and powerful D240 – both of which deliver fuel economy of 7.6L/100km and CO2 emissions of 199g/km (NEDC equivalent).
“The iconic Defender epitomises the unstoppable off-road capability of Land Rover. For many, it is synonymous with experiencing the extremes of New Zealand’s most rugged terrain,” says Jaguar Land Rover New Zealand General Manager, Steve Kenchington.
“The new Land Rover Defender integrates decades of Defender DNA and combines it with the latest generation technology from the Land Rovers that are produced today.
“Owners will be able to personalise the design of their new vehicle through four distinct accessory packs or by selecting from 170 individual accessories – the biggest range ever produced for a Land Rover.”
Pricing and delivery details for the new Defender will be announced during October.