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WATCH: New SA-bound Land Rover Defender unveiled at Frankfurt - An icon reimagined for the 21st century

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Image: Motorpress
Image: Motorpress

The new Land Rover Defender has been unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt International Motor Show and its automaker says the new vehicle is designed with purpose, and engineered to excite. Its clever and instantly recognisable silhouette that features signature Defender elements including short front and rear overhangs.

It doesn't only look tough, but is tough too. The durable new D7x architecture engineered to withstand the Extreme Event Test procedure, is above and beyond the normal standard for SUV.

READ: WATCH: New Land Rover Defender pushed to the limit in Dubai desert testing

It features world-class expert off and on-road. It redefines breadth of capability, all-terrain ability is beyond question, on-road comfort adds to its character.

Land Rover defender

                                               Image: Motorpress

It has a maximum payload of up to 900kg, static roof load of up to 300kg, dynamic roof load of 168kg, towing capacity of 3,500kg and wading depth of up to 900mm combine to make new Defender the ultimate 4x4 for overland adventures.

It also features Land Rover’s pioneering Terrain Response 2 technology moves the game on again with new Wade programme and world-first off-road Configurable Terrain Response allowing experts and novices to optimise traction no matter the conditions.



On-road comfort is composed on any road surface with supreme comfort ensuring long journeys are covered with ease. 

The Electrified powertrains introduced to the Defender with advanced mild-hybrid, as well as powerful and efficient petrol and diesel engines.

It debuts new Pivi Pro infotainment featuring an intuitive interface while Software-Over-The-Air updates provide the latest software at all times, anywhere in the world.

The functional, durable and flexible interior is unique with exposed structural elements and a central front jump seat – perfect for sharing adventures with the family

Land Rover defender

                                              Image: Motorpress

The Defender 110 is available with 5+2 seating in four distinct Accessory Packs (Explorer, Adventure, Country and Urban) and with 170 individual accessories, which will be joined by a smaller Defender 90 in 2020.

The new Land Rover Defender is an icon reimagined for the 21st century, it is clever, capable and safe for all the family, and in a category of its own.

The unmistakable silhouette is familiar yet new. It looks tough and is tough but designed with purpose and engineered to excite.

Iconic in name, shape and capability, the Defender can be personalised to allow owners to make the most of their world. 

Across seven decades of pioneering innovation, Land Rovers have earned a unique place in the hearts of explorers, humanitarian agencies and adventurous families across the world.

Proven in the harshest environments on earth, the new Defender maintains this bloodline. Beside the peerless luxury and refinement of the Range Rover family and the highly capable and versatile Discovery SUVs, new Defender completes the Land Rover dynasty.

The 110 is just the start for this family of the most capable and durable 4x4s in the world. It will be swiftly followed by a short wheelbase 90 in 2020.

The advanced all-terrain technologies redefine adventure for the 21stcentury, remaining true to the pioneering spirit that has been a Land Rover hallmark for 71 years.

Land Rover defender

                                                 Image: Motorpress

Emotionally charged design

A distinctive silhouette makes the new Defender instantly recognisable, with minimal front and rear overhangs providing excellent approach and departure angles.

Land Rover’s designers re-envisioned familiar Defender trademarks for the 21st century, giving the new 4x4 a purposeful upright stance and Alpine light windows in the roof, while retaining the side-hinged rear tailgate and externally-mounted spare wheel that make the original so identifiable. 

Gerry McGovern, Chief Design Officer, Land Rover, said:“We have created the new Defender to ensure it is ready for anything, with a design that has been inspired by the past, not constrained by it. Its elemental grille, sophisticated surfacing and commanding stance give the entire family a modernity and confidence that set it apart, while simultaneously retaining the essential elements that make a Defender so recognisable."

The stripped-back personality of the original Defender has been embraced inside, where structural elements and fixings usually hidden from view have been exposed, with the emphasis on simplicity and practicality.

Innovative features include a dash-mounted gear shifter to accommodate an optional central front ‘jump’ seat, which provides three-abreast seating across the front like early Land Rovers. 

Land Rover defender

                                                Image: Motorpress

As a result, the Defender 110 offers five, six or 5+2 seating configurations, with a loadspace behind the second-row seats of up to 1075 litres, and as much as 2380-litres when the second row is folded.

The Defender 90 will be able to accommodate six occupants in a vehicle the length of a compact family hatchback.User-friendly features include practical touches and advanced technological innovations.

Durable rubberised flooring shrugs off the spills of daily adventures and once-in-a-lifetime expeditions, providing a brush or wipe clean interior. 

The definition of durability

Land Rover’s new purpose-engineered D7x (for extreme) architecture is based on a lightweight aluminium monocoque construction to create the stiffest body structure Land Rover has ever produced. It is three times stiffer than traditional body-on-frame designs, providing perfect foundations for the fully independent air or coil sprung suspension and supports the latest electrified powertrains. 

A world-class expert off and on-road

Permanent all-wheel drive and a twin-speed automatic gearbox, centre differential and optional Active Locking Rear Differential ensure it has all the hardware required to excel in the soft sand of the desert, the freezing tundra of the arctic and everywhere in between. 

Configurable Terrain Response debuts on new Defender, allowing experienced off-roaders to fine-tune individual vehicle settings to perfectly suit the conditions, while inexperienced drivers can let the system detect the most appropriate vehicle settings for the terrain, using the intelligent Auto function. 

The new body architecture provides ground clearance of 291mm and world-class off-road geometry, giving the 110 approach, breakover and departure angles of 38, 28 and 40 degrees (Off Road height) respectively.

Land Rover defender

                                                Image: Motorpress

Its maximum wading depth of 900mm is supported by a new Wade programme in the Terrain Response 2 system, which ensures drivers can ford deep water with complete confidence. 

On dry land, Land Rover’s advanced ClearSight Ground View technology helps drivers take full advantage of Defender’s all-conquering capability by showing the area usually hidden by the bonnet, directly ahead of the front wheels, on the central touchscreen.

As a result, the new Defender redefines breadth of capability, raising the threshold for both off-road ruggedness and on-road comfort. It can negotiate crowded city streets as effortlessly as climbing mountains, crossing deserts and withstanding freezing temperatures. Its carefully honed handling delivers both a rewarding drive and first-class long-haul comfort across all terrains.

Power and efficiency

A choice of advanced petrol and cleaner diesel engines ensure new Defender has the power, control and efficiency for any environment.

At South African launch expected in the first half of 2020, the 110 line-up will include a powerful 3.0-litre straight six-cylinder P400 featuring efficient Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle technology with outputs of 294kW and 550Nm.

Alternatively, customers can choose a 2.0-litre D240 turbodiesel with 177kW and 430Nm.

The introduction of increased engine options, along with the short wheelbase 90 derivative, will follow later in 2020. 

Innovative engineering solutions support the efficiency drive, including a flat underbody which both optimises aerodynamic performance (as low as 0.38Cd) and protecting the vehicle’s underbody.

21st century technology

New Defender is as technologically advanced as it is durable. It introduces Jaguar Land Rover’s new Pivi Pro infotainment system. The next generation touchscreen is more intuitive and user-friendly, requiring fewer inputs to perform frequently used tasks, while its always-on design guarantees almost instant responses.

In addition, the new Defender takes Software-Over-The-Air (SOTA) technology to a new level, with 14 individual modules capable of receiving remote updates. By downloading data while customers are asleep at home or in far-flung locations, the new Defender will get better with age: as electronic updates cascade down to the vehicle immediately, without delay and with no need to visit a Land Rover retailer.Personalised for your world

Land Rover defender

                                                Image: Motorpress

The model range comprises Defender, First Edition and top of the range Defender X models, as well as standard, S, SE, HSE specification packs. Customers will be able to personalise their vehicle in more ways than any previous Land Rover with four Accessory Packs.

The Explorer, Adventure, Country and Urban Packs each give Defender a distinct character with a specially selected range of enhancements. The exclusive First Edition model features a unique specification and will be available throughout the first year of production.Customers will also be able to opt for a new Satin Protective Film to make the exterior paintwork even more durable.

The sustainable, solvent-free and completely recyclable wrap helps protect against everything from car park scratches to bramble rash and will be available as a factory-fit option with Indus Silver, Gondwana Stone and Pangea Green colours, providing a unique contemporary finish as it protects new Defender’s paintwork.

In addition to the Accessory Packs, new Defender is available with the widest choice of individual accessories ever assembled for a new Land Rover, with everything from a Remote Control Electric Winch, Rooftop Tent and Inflatable Waterproof Awnings to more conventional tow bar systems and roof racks.

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