AUTOMOTIVE
Nick Rogers, Executive Director, Product Engineering,
Jaguar Land Rover, said:
“We’ve embraced Defender’s stunning capability and
minimalistic, functional interior to reinvent the icon for the
21st century. New Defender gives us the licence to do things
differently, to push the boundaries and do the unthinkable,
without ever losing the character and authenticity of the
original.
From the start we had an absolute obsession with functionality
beneath the skin, from choosing the right materials through
to state-of-the-art connectivity. The result is not only the most
capable Land Rover ever made, but also a truly comfortable,
modern vehicle that people will love to drive.”
The core team of engineers and designers agreed the new
Defender family would include 90 and 110 body designs, retain
the distinctive silhouette, side-hinged rear door arrangement
and include a central front jump seat at the very beginning of
the programme.
Strong and tough body structure
With a wheelbase of 3,022mm (99mm longer than a Discovery)
the 110 has a breakover angle of 28 degrees (31 degrees for the
To retain the famous Defender silhouette, accommodate a family of
90) ensuring excellent off-road geometry*.
body designs and support the latest range of electrified powertrains,
Land Rover developed the new all-aluminium D7x platform.
The short rear overhang, the same for both body designs, is made
possible by mounting the spare wheel externally, rather than
It has the unique combination of practicality, flexibility and capability under the rear floor, where it is readily accessible off-road, and the
expected from a 4x4 wearing the Defender name and doesn’t share a trademark side-hinged rear door is engineered to accommodate
single body-in-white panel with another Land Rover model. any of the available wheel and tyre combinations.
This commitment to engineering integrity means the Defender has its The comprehensive choice of 18-, 19-, 20- and 22-inch wheels
own line in body assembly at the new manufacturing facility in Nitra, ranges from utilitarian 18-inch Gloss White Steel rims to 22-inch
Slovakia. Gloss Black five-spoke alloy designs. With All-Season or Off-Road
Raising the position of the body by 20mm compared to Land Rover’s
existing range of large SUVs and relocating elements including the
battery and cooling circuits, has enabled Land Rover’s engineers
tyres available, all with an outside rolling diameter of 815mm, the
Defender is available with the biggest contact patch of any Land
Rover – for peerless traction and grip in any environment.
to deliver ultra-short front and rear overhangs, which guarantee Specialist Professional Off-Road tyres are also available through
impressive approach and departure angles of 38 and 40 degrees Land Rover retailers in selected markets, for customers who need
respectively. the ultimate capability and robustness.
Issue 41 2019
The Art of Luxury
17