After putting it through more than 62,000 tests including some of the harshest environments on earth, Land Rover has finally taken the camouflage off the 2020 Defender at the 2019 Frankfurt International Motor Show. According to the company, it is the most capable and durable Land Rover ever.
As before, there’ll be 90 and 110 variants. In the UK, Land Rover is already accepting orders with prices starting at £40,000 for the 90 and £45,240 for the 110. There are commercial variants available too, with prices starting at £35,000 for the 90 variant. The personal vehicle range comprises Defender, S, SE, HSE, First Edition and top-of-the-range Defender X.
The new Defender is built on a derivative of D7 architecture called D7x, where the x stands for extreme. Land Rover says that the lightweight aluminium monocoque construction is the stiffest body structure ever produced by the company. It is apparently three times stiffer than the traditional body-on-frame designs.
Speaking of the design, as we can see, the designers have worked really hard in mixing the old charm with new technology. The two square elements in the Matrix LED headlamp units and the Alpine windows in the roof, for example. The boxy read-end has a side-hinged rear tailgate and externally-mounted spare wheel to add to the nostalgia.
The Defender 90 gets a folding fabric roof, while the 110 can be had with a sliding panoramic roof or a fixed metal roof. There’s a choice of 12 wheels across four sizes (18- to 22-inch), including 18-inch White steel wheels. Land Rover says that the Defender comes standard with the toughest and most durable tyre family yet.
As for the dimensions, the Defender 90 and 110 measure 2,105 mm wide (with mirrors), while the overall length is 4,583 mm and 5,018 mm, respectively. The ride height varies depending on the suspension system (coil/air). The air suspension is optional on the 90 and standard on 110 models. However, the Defender 90 X and Defender 90 First Edition get the air suspension as standard.
With air suspension, both models get a maximum wading depth of 900 mm. The approach, ramp, and breakover angles vary depending on the standard or with Off-Road package and with or without air suspension. When equipped with both, the Defender 90’s approach, ramp, and breakover angles are 38, 31 and 40 degrees, respectively.
The interiors too have been given a retro-modern touch, with durability and functionality being the keywords. The choice of veneers and finishers include open-pore wood with a Rough-cut Walnut or Natural Smoked Dark Oak. The 90 offers up to 6 seats, as you can see in one of the pictures here. That additional seat seems to have resulted in the dashboard-positioning of the gear selector lever.
Depending on the variant, features include a 12.3-inch Interactive Driver Display, 10-inch Pivi Pro infotainment system, wireless smartphone charging, 14-way heated and cooled electric memory front seats with 4-way manual headrests, 14-speaker Meridian Sound System, and driver assistance systems such as 3D Surround Camera, 360° Parking Aid, Lane Keep Assist, and Emergency Braking. Download 2020 Defender brochure here.
As for capability, both models feature a twin-speed transfer case. There is also the Terrain Response 2 system which comes with Rock Crawl and Wading modes when equipped with air suspension; the technology is now configurable for the powertrain, steering, differentials and traction control settings.
The optional All Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) enables the driver to set and maintain a steady speed in challenging conditions such as slippery surfaces, including mud, wet grass, ice, snow and dirt roads. Operating like a conventional cruise control system, it functions between 1 mph and 18 mph (1.6 km/h – 29 km/h).
Technologies such as ClearSight interior rearview mirror and ClearSight Ground View have made it to the 2020 Defender as well. The latter is available as part of the 3D Surround Camera system and gives the ability to “see-through” the bonnet.
The Defender 90 and 110 models are powered by turbocharged petrol and diesel engines. The 2.0-litre diesel engine is available in two states of tune; the top D240 tune offers 240 hp at 4,000 rpm and 430 Nm of torque at 1,400 rpm. The petrol variant has two engines. The 2.0-litre unit offers 300 hp at 5,500 rpm and 400 Nm of torque between 1,500-4,000 rpm. The 3.0-litre in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine is paired with a mild-hybrid system; the engine offers 400 hp at 5,500 rpm and 550 Nm of torque between 2,000-5,000 rpm. All three engines are paired with an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. Download 2020 Defender spec sheet here.
The 2020 Defender boasts a towing capacity of 3,720 kg, static roof load capacity of up to 300 kg and dynamic roof load of 168 kg. Accessories include a Remote Control Electric Winch, which is claimed to have a maximum pulling force of 4,536 kg and can be operated up to 45 metres away.
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