The New Land Rover Defender, the most capable Land Rover ever made lunched at INR 73.98 Lakh in India. Land Rover had opened pre-launch bookings for the SUV earlier.
The iconic off-roader is available in two distinct body styles, the very sporty 90 (3 door) and the versatile 110 (5 door). The New Land Rover Defender has been launched at attractive introductory prices (ex-showroom) as follows –
Defender 90 – INR 73.98 Lakh
Defender 110 – INR 79.94 Lakh
Land Rover Defender has been around for 70 years now. In India, the 2020 Defender 110 is being launched first and the three-door 90 will be launched soon while bookings for it are open.
Design
Elements such as the solid shoulder line, minimal front and rear overhangs, Alpine light windows, round headlights, side-hinged rear tailgate & externally mounted spare wheel are typical characteristics that are retained from the original model. Defender’s front profile features a raised bonnet, sculpted grille and round headlights for a distinct look. At, the rear, Side-opening tailgate with externally mounted spare wheel and characterful tail lights gracefully adds to tough looks.
The New Land Rover Defender is a highly customizable vehicle. Customers can choose from seven exterior colour options including Fuji White, Eiger Grey, Santorini Black, Indus Silver as well as options such as Tasman Blue, Pangea Green, and Gondwana Stone that are exclusive to the Defender. A range of 9 wheel designs from 45. 72 cm (18) pressed steel rims to 50.8 cm (20) alloys are also provided on the New Defender.
Interiors
Land Rover Defender’s interior bears testimony to the vehicle’s spirit of adventure. Structural elements are made of robust materials. everything has been designed with practicality in mind. With a cabin walk-through, an optional front jump seat and centre console, space can be configured any number of ways. Interior’s exposed structural surfaces are finished in a highly durable textured powder coat, extending to the steering wheel and doors.
A canvas-inspired Robust Woven Textile, which is offered with the grained leather seats to reduce wear and tear in areas where it is needed most. There is also a choice of veneers and finishers on the console, including an open-pore wood available with a Rough-cut Walnut or an optional Natural Smoked Dark Oak veneer.
Defender’s cabin has an ergonomic design that offers 5+2 seating configurations, The rear load space delivers maximum practicality with the 110 providing load-carrying capacity from 231 l (litres) for the 5+2 seater with all rows up, to 2,380 l (litres) for the 5-seater with the second row folded down. The second-row seatbacks are split 40:20:40.
Customers can spec the third-row seats, with the provision of air vents already there even in the five-seater models. The boot lid opens sideways and the height can also be lowered through a button placed in the boot.
Engine
The New Land Rover Defender 90 and 110 models are offered with a single-engine option. This comes in the form of a 2.0-litre four-cylinder BS6-compliant petrol engine producing 296 hp and a maximum torque of 400 Nm.
Off-Road Capability
The All-New Defender has been tested for 1.2 million km of on and off-road drives. The vehicle has been designed on the bespoke D7x, a platform with a unique monocoque architecture making it tougher than ever. It has triple the torsional rigidity of a body-on-frame design while being lightweight and fuel-efficient.
ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD)
The system intelligently controls torque distribution between the front and rear axle. On challenging surfaces, such as sand, grass or snow, torque can be balanced between the front and rear wheels to maximise traction. In extreme conditions, where the front or rear wheels lose traction, up to 100 per cent of engine torque can be distributed to the opposite axle for optimum grip.
AWD system combines with Electronic Traction Control (ETC) to deliver a sure-footed driving experience in even the most challenging situations.
TWIN-SPEED TRANSFER BOX
A set of lower gears for s steep inclines or declines, off-road driving or when towing.
COIL SUSPENSION AND ELECTRONIC AIR SUSPENSION
The coil-sprung suspension system combines double wishbones at the front with an advanced multi-link rear suspension.
Electronic Air Suspension provides for selection of a height of 40 mm below normal ride height, to an extended height of up to 75 mm. The system’s adaptive dampers monitor body movements up to 500 times per second and respond almost instantaneously to optimise control and comfort.
ELECTRONIC ACTIVE DIFFERENTIAL
The optional Electronic Active Differential ensures the greatest level of traction. It does so by controlling the slip between the left and right wheels on the rear axle.
CONFIGURABLE TERRAIN RESPONSE AND TERRAIN RESPONSE 2
One can individually configure Defender’s powertrain, steering, differentials and traction control settings. This means you can go beyond – be it the Siberian tundra, or rock crawling in Moab. The automatic setting even monitors the terrain and systematically selects the most suitable setting.
ALL-TERRAIN PROGRESS CONTROL (ATPC)
One can set and maintain a steady speed in challenging conditions such as slippery surfaces, including mud, wet grass, ice, snow and dirt roads. It operates like a conventional cruise control system, it functions between 1.8 km/h and 30 km/h.
HILL DESCENT CONTROL
It is capable to maintain a constant speed and apply braking separately to each wheel while going downhill. The vehicle also utilises Gradient Release Control, which is designed to prevent the vehicle from accelerating too quickly on a steep incline when the driver releases the brake.
ADAPTIVE DYNAMICS
Adaptive Dynamics is available with Electronic Air Suspension, allowing customers to fine-tune the driving characteristics. The system’s adaptive dampers monitor body movements up to 500 times per second and respond almost instantaneously to optimise control and comfort.
WATER WADING
With Wade Sensing screen on the infotainment system, the Defender has a water wading depth of 900 mm.
GEOMETRY
The All-New Defender has an approach angle of 38°. This is coupled with a break over angle of up to 31° and a departure angle of 40°.
Defender Technology and Features
Defender introduces Land Rover’s new Pivi Pro infotainment system with a 25.4 cm (10) Touchscreen and Connected Navigation Pro. The next-generation touchscreen is intuitive and user-friendly, requiring few inputs to perform frequently used tasks, while its always-on design guarantees almost instant responses. The New Defender sports the next-generation Electronic Vehicle Architecture (EVA 2.0) supporting SOTA (Software-Over-The-Air) updates. SOTA allows customers to receive updates without visiting the retailer.
It also gets a Heads Up Display which projects key vehicle data, including speed, gear position and navigation directions, on the windscreen and a 31.24 cm (12.3) high-definition Interactive Driver Display that can display a wide range of relevant information, entertainment and driver assistance data, including full-screen 3D map-view navigation, phone and media.
A ClearSight Rear Mirror, which uses a live video feed to ensure that you always enjoy an unobstructed view & ClearSight Ground View which is available as a part of the 3D Surround Camera system. ClearSight Ground View allows you to effectively see ‘through’ Defender’s bonnet and displays multiple exterior views, including the vehicle’s underside and wheels.
For comfort, the vehicle has an optional Meridian Surround Sound System (700 W), which includes 14 speakers and a dual-channel subwoofer, heated and cooled seats and premium cabin lighting gives you 10 configurable options so you can match your surroundings to your mood, personality, or driving style.
Other standard features include Six Airbags, Cruise Control and Speed Limiter, Driver Condition Monitor, Wade Sensing, 360° Parking Aid and 3D Surround Camera.
Defender Personalisation
Allowing customers to explore unlimited possibilities, the New Defender offers a choice from among 170 individual accessories and four distinct Accessory packs, including:
- Explorer Pack: It’s equipped with features such as the Expedition Roof Rack, a Raised Air Intake to wade through the deepest of waters, Exterior Side-mounted Gear Carrier to store items, Wheel Arch Protection, Front & Rear Classic Mudflaps, Spare Wheel Cover, and Matte Black Bonnet detail that makes it ideal for those who want to defy conventions and conquer uncharted landscapes.
- Adventure Pack: Designed to equip you for the wild, the pack features an Integrated Air Compressor to inflate tyres on the go, Portable Rinse System to wash off while you are on the trail, an Exterior Side Mounted Gear Carrier and a Seat Backpack to store items, Front and Rear Mudflaps, Bright Rear Scuff plate and a Spare Wheel cover.
- Country Pack: With Front & Rear Classic Mudflaps, Bright Rear Scuff Plate, Portable Rinse System, Wheel Arch Protection and Loadspace Partition, it equips you when you decide to embrace the elements and make every journey truly memorable.
- Urban Pack: It lends touches of individuality for your vehicle with the use of Bright Metal Pedals and Rear Scuff Plate, Front Undershield and a Spare Wheel Cover.