The first batch of Land Rover Defender in the long wheelbase version will be imported as a luxury off-roader in India but JLR will eventually start local production.
Land Rover unveiled the all-new Defender at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show last month and already, it has been spotted testing in India. A pre-production model was seen on our roads and while it came heavily camouflaged, it further confirms that Land Rover will bring this iconic nameplate to India. However, it still wouldn’t make it anytime before the second half of 2020.
The new-gen Defender is available in two interations – a short wheelbase, two-door 90 version and a long wheelbase, four-door 110 version. We will be getting the latter one. The new Defender is however not utilitarian and a sole off-roader anymore. It is very much modern with lots of tech and sophistication and ironically, has turned out to be more of a luxury SUV. That was never what the Defender was about but it sure still is pleasant.
Well, it beautifully retains the old world charm in the form of its boxy profile but hey, look at the details and its every bit modern. The overall boxy profile is then rounded off with smooth curves and lines which gives it quite some sophistication. The butch looking hood, wide wheel arches, and the Alpine windows have all been retained from its predecessor. The short front and rear overhangs, the flat panels and glass area, are all reminiscent of the original icon.
On the inside, its a whole new story here as well. The dashboard is properly modern and contemporary but retains the Defender’s boxy and rugged design language. The exposed bolts on the interior are a particular nice touch. There’s a 10-inch infotainment display on a single piece dashboard with an all digital 12-inch instrument cluster and it now comes with JLR’s latest software which is much more user friendly than before.
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But all this sophistication aside, the Defender is a true off-roader. For this purpose, it gets a huge 291mm ground clearance, a 38-degree approach angle and 40-degree departure angle. Water-wading depth is an incredible 900mm. Unlike the Jeep Wrangler which uses a ladder-frame chassis, the Defender uses an aluminum monocoque chassis which they say is the stiffest they have ever produced. Other mechanical bits include a permanent all-wheel drive system, a low- range transmission, locking central differential and active rear locking differential.
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While the new Defender has been launched with a range of petrol and diesel engines, the ones first coming to India will likely be the four-cylinder P300 petrol with 300hp and a 0-100kph time of 8.1sec, and the 240hp D240 diesel that does 0-100 in 9.1sec. When launched in India, the Defender will cost about Rs. 55-60 lakhs and it will rival the likes of the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The first batch of Defenders will be imported as a luxury off-roader in the country but JLR will eventually start local production just as they did with the Discovery Sport and the Evoque.
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