Land Rover Defender returns with modern style and technology



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The Land Rover Defender has been resurrected as a very different SUV.

The all-new all-terrain vehicle debuted Tuesday at the Frankfurt Motor Show with a modern look that shares no more than its square silhouette with the previous edition, which had finished production in 2016 after 33 years of existence and had been sold for the last time in the United States. in 1997.

Unlike the original chassis-bodied truck, the 2020 Defender is built on an aluminum monocoque chassis and rests on a fully independent suspension, similar to the other utility vehicles of the brand, in an effort to combine on-road refinement and capabilities All Terrain. .

The Defender launches the 110 four-door model at a base price of $ 50,925, while a 90-door two-door will follow at a lower entry point. Five passenger seats are standard and an optional front seat, which also serves as a central armrest, can be extended to six. The 110 is also available in a seven-passenger configuration with a small third-row two-seater.

About the same length as the Jeep Wranglers against which they will fight, the Defenders feature a sleek body that contrasts with the military-inspired style of the US competition and its predecessor and did not removable roof. Optional equipment can be added to give it a more robust appearance, including wheel arch protections, a roof rack, a roof ladder and luggage racks mounted on the rear side windows and functioning as motorcycle saddlebags. A pressurized water tank for rinsing fouled gear and an air compressor are also included with some trim kits.

The Defenders of the US market will initially be offered with the choice between a turbocharged four-cylinder engine of 2.0 liters and 296 horsepower and a mild hybrid engine of 3.0 liters and 3.0 liters with electric motor assistance. The fuel economy figures have not yet been determined, but all 110 will be able to tow up to 8,201 pounds or carry a payload of 1,984 pounds.

The Defender's all-wheel drive system is equipped with a two-speed locking center differential, while off-road models are equipped with a rear axle lock. An optional air suspension system can increase the Defender's ground clearance from 8.6 inches to 11.5 inches and allow it to traverse water up to 35.4 inches deep. Land Rover says the Defender is also able to climb, descend and cross the 45 degrees.

The Defender has a group of digital instruments and a single central display with the latest infotainment system from the manufacturer, which can display a virtual view under the vehicle and information on water depth provided by ultrasonic sensors. A video mirror provides direct power from the tailgate that bypasses the heads of passengers and gear. The cabin is lined with high-end materials, such as leather straps on the dashboard and wooden sleepers flanking the center console, but color-matched inserts on the door panels add a touch of utility.

Order books are now open for deliveries of the Defender 110 starting next spring.

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