After a couple of Ranger Raptor vids on DriveTribe, 49-year-old Richard Hammond decided to take Land Rover on their offer to check out the Defender. The newcomer has a few notable changes in store, starting with the unibody architecture and an electrified powerplant.
“Wait, what? Nonsense! Land Rover has switched from an off-roader to a luxury SUV with all-terrain capabilities?” So it seems, dear reader, and as much as the Defender enthusiast doesn’t like the idea, this is the reality we’re facing. Even Hammond gives away a bit of disappointment in his video presentation, yet The Grand Tour host is also aware that the direction chosen by JLR is a compromise that had to happen anyway.
Two diesels, a gasoline engine, and a straight-six with plug-in hybrid assistance are in the offing for the first model year. The 2.0-liter Ingenium four-cylinder turbo is likely to serve as the entry-level option in the U.S., packing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. At the other end of the spectrum, prepare for 394 horsepower and 406 pound-feet.
The electrified powertrain is good for 5.7 seconds to 60 miles per hour in the Defender 90 while the larger and heavier Defender 110 manages 5.8 seconds with the help of an eight-speed automatic transmission. A two-speed transfer case complements the all-wheel-drive system and Terrain Response 2 system, along with a manually-locking center differential and an automatically-locking rear differential. Air suspension is also available, taking the Defender closer to the Range Rover than ever before.
Land Rover makes a case for “world-class off-road geometry” for the 110, which is a big claim considering how capable the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon is off the beaten path. The American competitor has a 5.9-degree advantage on approach, and yes, the Defender boasts more wading depth than the Wrangler at 35.4 inches as opposed to 30 inches.
Even though the exterior has a few similarities with the previous generation, the 2020 Land Rover Defender is all business as far as the cabin is concerned. Both plush and tech-savvy, the newcomer can also be specified with more than 170 accessories from the official catalog at launch. One of the pre-made packages – called Explorer Pack – sweetens the deal with a snorkel, roof rack, and side gear carriers.
Family-oriented customers will have to wait until mid-2020 for the Defender 130 to arrive as the largest member of the series.
LATER EDIT:
Live photos from the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show have been added to the gallery.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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