The long-awaited replacement for the iconic Land Rover Defender has finally been revealed in the first official pictures.
Boasting the latest tech and the British marque’s legendary off-road capability, the new Defender range will be priced from around £40,000.
Described by Land Rover’s Chief Design Officer Gerry McGovern as a car that “is respectful of its past, but not harnessed by it”, the new model retains its ancestor’s side profile, as well as familiar design cues like the ‘Alpine’ windows in the roof and a spare wheel mounted on the side-hinged tailgate.
It will be available as a five-door long-wheelbase 110 (with a choice of five, six or seven seats) and a short-wheelbase, three-door 90, and every Defender will be four-wheel drive.
The minimalist, functional interior incorporates Land Rover’s latest infotainment system, Pivi Pro, which comes with a 10-inch screen, while a 12.3-inch driver’s digital instrument panel is standard across the range.
The new Defender will be available with a range of petrol and diesel engines, including a mild-hybrid version, while a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) version will follow.
The last original Land Rover Defender left the assembly line at Solihull in 2016 – ending 68 years of continuous production.
What began as simply a line drawing in the sand went on to become one of the world’s most iconic 4x4s, earning the accolade of being the most versatile vehicle on the planet, capable of taking owners to places other vehicles couldn’t reach. In all, more than two million Series Land Rovers and Defenders were built.
“We’ve embraced Defender’s stunning capability and minimalistic, functional interior to reinvent the icon for the 21st century,” said Nick Rogers, Executive Director, Product Engineering, Jaguar Land Rover.
“New Defender gives us the licence to do things differently, to push the boundaries and do the unthinkable, without ever losing the character and authenticity of the original.
“The result is not only the most capable Land Rover ever made, but also a truly comfortable, modern vehicle that people will love to drive.”
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