Land Rover Defender an icon reborn

The Defender was first introduced in 1948 and over the years has become one of the most iconic cars on our planet. Now there is a new Land Rover Defender, I attended an event at the new Jaguar Land Rover Experience Centre in Johannesburg for the live streaming of the international unveiling at the Frankfurt International Motor show.

The Defender has driven through jungles, deserts, over mountains and through valleys. For many, it was the first thing on four wheels that they had ever seen but I don’t have space to wax lyrical about the Defenders’ achievements. So let me elaborate on the new one.

The styling

Gerry McGovern, Chief Design Officer said that the new Defender must be respectful of its past but not harnessed by it. The styling is unmistakably Defender with design elements from the past that have been carried over to the latest iteration. Take the square design, the flat top shoulders and the rear-mounted spare wheel which is fitted to a side-hinged rear tailgate. Keen-eyed onlookers will even notice the small window on the side of the roof. The front-end has been made dominant thanks to its square and muscular design. The headlights feature the iconic circle in a square design from previous generations; however, the new headlights now feature the latest in adaptive light technology. The rear lights also feature a square design which adds to the robust look of the car. The new Defender will be available with a variety of different wheel options. Some might opt for the 22-inch alloy wheels but I prefer the 18-inch white-painted pressed steel options.

The interior

As with the exterior, the interior has stayed true to form but has been drastically modernised to offer the latest in technology as well as comfort. The facia features a two-tier design with an extended panel which houses the gear lever and climate control functions. Above it, you will find a single infotainment screen (not two as in other models in the stable). This new infotainment system features improved software and can accommodate up to two smartphone connections at a time. There are also multiple cameras around the car which can display high-quality images of your surroundings for better navigation through tough terrain.

You can specify your Defender with a variety of interior trim options as well as configurations. Customers can even opt for a centre console or have it replaced for a third front seat which when folded acts as an armrest. One of the highlights is that the interior remains functional and rugged, the lower sections of the interior can even be washed out if needed and there are exposed body panels for that iconic Defender look. The Defender will be offered in the short wheelbase 90 derivative and a long wheelbase 110, with the latter arriving first. The 110 can be ordered in 5, 6 or 7 seat option and when specified with 5 seats, there are an impressive 1 075-litres of packing space and with the rear seats folded flat, it expands to load around 2 380-litres.

Under the skin

The latest Land Rover Defender is built on a new D7x platform, a platform which covered around 1.2-million kilometres around the Rocky Mountains, Arctic circle and the Sahara desert during testing. The monocoque platform is made from lightweight Aluminium however Land Rover claims that this design is the stiffest body structure it has ever created and is about 3 times stiffer than a ladder frame chassis. As for its off-roading credibility’s, the Defender features 291 mm of ground clearance and the long-wheelbase 110 has an approach angle of 38-degrees, a 40-degree departure angle and a 28-degree break-over angle. The vehicle will also wade through water 900 mm of water.

The engines

When the new Defender arrives in South Africa customers will have access to two engine derivatives in the 110 version. The 90 models will come later as with the addition of engine options. The 110 will be offered with a diesel in the form of the D240 which makes use of a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder said to develop 177 kW and 430 N.m of torque. The other option will be a 3.0-litre straight-six turbocharged petrol which will develop 294 kW and 550 N.m of torque.

Arrival

The new Land Rover Defender 110 will arrive in South Africa in the first half of 2020 with the 90 following close. Pricing has not been confirmed as of yet but according to international prices, we can speculate that the 90 will start at just over R800 000 with the 110 being just over R900 000.