First footage released of new Defender
LAND Rover has released the first video footage of its allnew Defender model.
The footage celebrates the return of the vehicle to the North American market.
A specially-made short film shows a long wheelbase 110 version of the vehicle in heavy camouflage being put through its paces on an off-road course.
The footage was released, along with the first official photographs, of the next generation version of the iconic off-roader.
Jaguar Land Rover North America revealed the all-new Defender will go on sale in both the US and Canada from 2020, making its debut some time in 2019.
The Defender has always had a large fanbase on the other side of the pond but more recently was not sold there as it did not comply with safety regulations.
Off-road and on-road testing of Defender prototypes began in North America this month.
Jaguar Land Rover said the continent was a perfect proving ground for the new Defender, given the wide variety of terrain and surfaces available.
The company said its engineers would subject the vehicle to “rigorous test extremes” to ensure it is “the most offroad capable Land Rover vehicle ever”.
It will be tested in temperatures ranging from -120 degrees to 120 degrees Fahrenheit and at altitudes of more than 13,000ft above sea level.
In the short film, Kim McCullough, vice president of marketing for Jaguar Land Rover North America, says: “The new Defender has to be the most highly anticipated launch ever.
“2018 is a really important birthday for Land Rover as it marks 70 years since vehicles first debuted at the Amsterdam Motor Show in 1948.
“The Land Rover Series vehicles, later known as Defender, have really represented the heart and soul of Land Rover.”
Ms McCullough confirmed the first prototype Defenders had arrived in the US shortly before the end of 2018 for “rigorous testing”.
She added “We are going to make sure that the next generation Defender is the most capable and durable yet. “Few vehicles are as loved. “It has been a long time coming but people will not be disappointed.”
Prototypes of the new Defender have been spotted