Sneak peek at the 2020 Land Rover Defender
While this spy shot may look like someone was sneaking around in wait for the latest Land Rover, the truth is this pic was supplied by the company itself. Nonetheless, they give us a first look — albeit a very limited one — at the new Land Rover Defender under development going for a joyride near the company’s factory in Solihull, U.K.
Aficionados bemoaned the cancellation of one of the world’s most legendary off-roaders when Land Rover pulled the plug on the Defender in 2016. But fear not, world travellers, overlanders and, yes, those of you picking up the kids at school, it’s coming back. And if you need further assurance, a comment from Land Rover Canada says “We can confirm that customers around the world will be taking delivery of and enjoying Defender again from 2020.” So, not far off.
This heavy camouflage makes it look like the last-generation LR4/Discovery, so it’s difficult to make any assumptions of what the new Defender will really look like. But you can see this is a fourdoor model with LED tail lights, some sort of electronics rack at the top of the windshield and independent suspension. If you squint, you can see elements and the shape of the DC100 Expedition concept that Land Rover debuted in 2011 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Expect to see more of the new Defender as it slowly drops its extra clothes in the months to come. And if it’s true that they’ll be on sale by 2020, chances are we will see a full debut sometime next year.