Stress, anxiety, headaches, insomnia, indigestion... We are betting that the new development team Land Rover Defender went through all this. After all, how to replace a (true) off-road icon that has been in production continuously for 67 years? Climbing Everest should be easier…
How to bring it to the century. XXI, where the car is super-regulated, whether in terms of safety or emissions; where the digital takes on vital relevance; where are we even trying to get rid of the element that is between the steering wheel and the seat?
It would be impossible, in the light of the world we live in, to perpetuate the Defender (or the original Series) we have always known, so the only way forward would be to reinvent, maintaining, as far as possible, the values we associate with Defender of " pure and hard”, utilitarian object and strong focus on functionalism.
Heavy inheritance.
For detractors and fans, it's time to dive into the new and reinvented Land Rover Defender.
Looks like a Defender
Perhaps one of the most sensitive aspects to overcome. The criticisms were quite harsh when the stylized DC100 concepts appeared in 2011, which is why Land Rover took a step back, investing in a more functional and utilitarian design, while still emanating a certain sophistication in its execution.
The iconic silhouette remains, whether in the short 90 (three doors) or the long 110 (five doors); the surfaces are clean and roughly flat, with no unnecessary “flourishment” or styling elements.
Gerry McGovern, Chief Design Officer, Land RoverThe new Defender respects its past, but doesn't let it limit it. It is a new Defender for a new era.
The front and rear overhangs are very short to ensure angles for off-road practice (38º angle of attack and 40º angle of exit); and access to the luggage compartment is also via a side opening door, which integrates the spare wheel.
Result? The new Land Rover Defender doesn't get stuck in the past, it doesn't fall for easy retro, despite evoking the general features and main elements of the original.
It also doesn't follow the stylistic “fashions”, and the fact that it is composed of lines, surfaces and elements that are quite simple in its essence, but without looking “cheap”, augurs good chances of longevity for this design.
inner revolution
Still in the design chapter, it is in the interior that we see that we have definitely entered another era. Touchscreens on a Defender? Welcome to the 19th century XXI. The interior design is marked by a constructivist approach, where Defender's functional nature finds its best expression.
The structuring element that defines the dashboard is a magnesium beam running the entire length of the dashboard. A unique piece, which ensures a feeling of robustness to the interior, with a plastic coating — available in various finishes — that supports all the other elements.
The simplicity and practicality of the original Defender finds an echo in the structural elements that make it up, such as the door's structural panels, which are proudly displayed, or in the various screws that are visible to everyone.
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You've probably already noticed the small gearbox knob mounted on the dashboard itself. The justification for its positioning is simple: to free up space in the middle where we can optionally place a third seat (occasional use), between the other two, making it possible to carry three passengers in front, as happened in the first Land Rovers.
In other words, even the short Defender 90 — just 4.32 m long (no spare wheel), shorter than a Renault Mégane — can carry up to six passengers.
Defender 110, longer (4.75 m without spare wheel) and with five doors, can seat five, six, or 5+2 passengers; and 1075 l of luggage capacity from the second row to the rear and up to the roof (646 l to the waistline).
There are several storage compartments, the floor is made of rubber, resistant and easily washable, and a retractable fabric roof is optionally available.
Monoblock and not stringers and crossmembers
We've seen the Wrangler, the G and even the little Jimny stick to tradition by sitting on a chassis with spars and crossmembers. The new Land Rover Defender went the other way.
This uses a variant of Jaguar Land Rover's aluminum monocoque platform, the D7. called D7x — “x” for Extreme, or Extreme.
This is, without a doubt, the most controversial point of the new Defender: the abandonment of the traditional chassis with spars and crossmembers.
Nick Rogers, Director Product Engineering, Land RoverFor us, traditional architecture no longer makes sense. We want Defender to be an excellent TT without compromising on asphalt.
Land Rover says it is the stiffest structure it has ever produced — 29 kNm/degree, or three times stiffer than traditional spars and crossmembers, “providing the perfect foundations,” says the brand, for the fully independent suspension (helical or pneumatic springs) and also for the electrification of powertrains.
A “profession of faith” in the merits of the new technical solution, which, in our opinion, needs to be proven on off-road. Something we should do soon in a first dynamic test.
on and off road
With such a sophisticated suspension scheme — for a Defender —, double wishbones at the front and Integral Link at the rear, this will be Defender with the most “good manners” ever on the tarmac — we can count on wheels up to 22″(!). The smallest dimension is 18″.
We asked Andy Wheel, responsible for the exterior design of the new Defender, about the decision to adopt wheels with «XXL» dimensions and the answer could not have been simpler: “We adopted these dimensions of wheels because we can . In addition to being capable and robust, Defender has to be highly desirable and modern. I think we've achieved that goal.”
But with this technological "evolution", the Land Rover Defender's all-terrain skills were not compromised?
The reference values for any “pure and hard” all terrain are not ashamed. The D7x platform allows angles of attack, ventral or ramp, and output of, respectively, 38º, 28º and 40º for the Defender 110, equipped with air suspension and maximum height to the ground (291 mm).
Defender 90, under the same conditions, manages 38th, 31st and 40th. The ford passage depth varies between 850 mm (coil springs) and 900 mm (susp, pneumatic). The maximum slope is 45º, identical value for the maximum lateral slope.
As for the transmission, we naturally have four-wheel drive, a two-speed transfer box, a center differential and an optional active rear differential lock.
A computer for the «mud»
In addition to the hardware, it is the software that is highlighted for the practice of off-roading, with the new Land Rover Defender introducing the system Terrain Response 2 configurable, which for the first time has a new mode for ford passes, dubbed WADE.
This system allows the driver to monitor the height of the water to the body (900 mm maximum height) through the screen in the center of the dashboard, and after leaving the immersion zone, it automatically dries the discs (creating friction between the inserts and the discs). brake) for maximum immediate braking capacity.
The ClearSight Ground View system is also present, making the bonnet “invisible”, where we can see on the infotainment system screen what is happening directly in front of the vehicle.
Defend… electrified
At its launch, the new Land Rover Defender will use four engines, two Diesel and two petrol.
Already known from other Jaguar Land Rover models, in the Diesel field we have two in-line four-cylinder units, with 2.0 liters of capacity: D200 and D240 , in reference to the power debited by each one.
On the gasoline side, we started with a 2.0 liter in-line four-cylinder, the P300 , which is like saying 300 hp of power.
The biggest news will be the introduction of the new in-line six-cylinder block with 3.0 l and 400 hp or P400 , which will be accompanied by a 48 V semi-hybrid system.
There is only one transmission available for all engines, an eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF and next year an unprecedented version of Defender will arrive: the P400e , or translating for kids, a plug-in hybrid Defender.
Defend, synonymous with… high-tech?
It is not only in the electrified engines that we see the need for the “old” Defender to adapt to the century. XXI — there is a digital revolution inside the new Defender that is based on a new electrical architecture, EVA 2.0.
The Land Rover Defender can receive — imagine — software updates wirelessly (SOTA), network already compatible with 5G technology, and debuts a new infotainment system called Pivo Pro , faster and more intuitive.
Speaking to Razão Automóvel, Alex Heslop, Director of Software and Electronics at Land Rover, revealed that it took the brand 5 years to develop the EVA 2.0 system.
The level of sophistication of this new system goes to the point where it can be updated without having to suspend its use during installation. The processing capacity of the new system allows it to receive new functionalities in the future without compromising the speed and fluidity of use.
customization
In addition to two body styles, 90 and 110, and up to six seats (90) or seven (110), the new Defender will be available in various equipment levels: Defender, S, SE, HSE and Defender X.
In addition to the equipment levels, the new Defender can also receive four customization packs: Explorer, Adventure, Country and Urban , each adapted to a type of use, with specific equipment — see the gallery below.
Pack Explorer
How much does it cost? Price of the new Defender
The new Land Rover Defender is being publicly unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. For now only the passenger versions, but for the year will be added commercial versions.
Steel wheels, less equipment and of course a nicer price. Less "noble" elements, which, however, do not seem to compromise the overall appearance of the model:
With sales scheduled to start in Portugal for the spring of next year, the prices of the new Defender start at 80 500 euros in the short version (Defender 90) and in the 87 344 euros for the long version (Defender 110).
In the first launch phase, only the Defender 110 version will be available, associated with the D240 and P400 engines. Six months later, the Defender 90 version arrives, bringing with it the remaining engines in the range.
