DEFENDING A NEW AGE
LAND rover’s new Defender 4X4 made a dramatic entrance at this week’s frankfurt Motor Show — driven down a steeply inclined offroad ramp by British mountaineer Kenton Cool.
It’s a 21st-century incarnation of the original and iconic 71-year-old Defender 4X4 — loved by the Queen and millions of commoners alike.
It stole the show. But will it steal your heart like its predecessor?
The new Defender is built to be tough enough to tackle any adventure from the school run to the Serengeti. And for family takeaways there are even six ‘curry hooks’.
It is the modern-day successor to the rufty-tufty 1948 Solihullbuilt Land rover. There are two main versions at launch — the three-door Defender 90 priced from £40,000, and the five-door 110 — from £45,240 up to £78,000 for the top-spec Defender X.
A smart ‘van’ version for rescue organisations such as the red Cross will follow from £35,000 plus VAT. Although it’s been designed and engineered in Britain, the Defender will be built in Slovakia.
Some fans have complained the new version is too expensive and not sufficiently ‘basic’. The previous ageing Defender had to end production in 2016 because it was too costly to almost handbuild, couldn’t keep up with safety and emissions legislation, and was selling far too few to make it viable.
The latest Defender, which is being used in the new Bond film No Time To Die, has many styling and practical cues that hark back to the original.
A central ‘jump seat’ — like in the original — allows three seats up front. It promises the traditional ‘go-anywhere’ ability to traverse deserts, mountains, rocky terrain and arctic ice. It can wade through rivers and streams up to 900mm/3ft deep.
Ground clearance of up to 291mm means it can tackle steep slopes easily. It can tow up to 3,500 kg, has ‘X-ray vision’ to see under the vehicle; a digital rear mirror; wifi and cyber security.
There are four accessory packs: Explorer, Adventure, Country and urban. The diesels promise fuel economy of up to 37.2mpg with Co2 emissions of 199g/km.
Chief designer Gerry McGovern said: ‘The new Defender is respectful of its past, but is not harnessed by it. This is a new Defender for a new age.’