This is the Land Rover Defender of the 21st century

It is the myth of the SUV. The Land Rover Defender remained almost unchanged for 70 years and now it is time to renew. The car that started the history of Land Rover in 1948 has taken a leap in time to remain the best 4x4 in the market, but according to the canons of a new era.

Since that first Land Rover Series 1, the SUV par excellence has remained very faithful to the original, and therein lay much of its charm. That is why the challenge of creating the Defender 2020 is so important for the British firm. Its long launch is one of the great events of the Frankfurt Motor Show that opens its doors today.

Its design is a nod to the original Defender. Straight forms, a grill reinterpreted in the manner of the current Land Rover but that maintains the DNA of the 'firstborn' and details directly copied from the king of the SUVs: virtually non-existent front and rear overhangs, tailgate with side hinges and, of course, the spare wheel mounted on it. It will even keep sheet metal tires.

Remain king

It will have to be conducted to prove it, but Land Rover hastened to ensure that the new Defender will be as proverbially effective in the field as its predecessor. And it does so with data in hand: angles of attack, ventral and exit of 38, 28 and 40 degrees, a ground height of 291 mm and a wading capacity of 900 mm. In addition, Americans will like to know that they can tow up to 3,720 kilos and transport 168 on the moving roof.

Logically, to execute all this you must be well armed, and not only with an engine with sufficient torque or with a structure that facilitates the passage of obstacles. It will also equip off-road driving systems designed for intensive use in the field: permanent all-wheel drive, reducer, central differential, active rear differential lock (optional), independent suspensions ... are just some of them.

As a novelty, the Land Rover Defender 2020 will release a configurable Terrain Response system, so that the most experts can individually manage the action of electronic aids and rookies on the off road leave the system to act as it considers at all times. It will also offer the 'invisible hood', a camera that shows on the screen the part of the land that covers the nose .

The creators of the Defender 2020 have been free to choose the engines and adapt them to current trends. There will be light hybrids from the beginning, traditional gasoline and diesel (very decisive in terms of performance, surely the biggest change of the new model) and even plug-in hybrids, which will arrive in 2020 .

Initially Land Rover has chosen two gasoline versions (a four-cylinder P300 and 300 hp and a six-cylinder P400 with 400 hp, the only one with a built-in microhybrid system) and two other diesel (both four-cylinder with 200 and 240 horses respectively) for the D200 and D240) .

Since it is still a heavy car (all versions are above 2,100 kilos despite the fact that now its chassis is made of aluminum) the performance is not as buoyant as one might expect from its powerful engines, although it may be a sign that Land Rover has continued to prioritize off-road benefits. Of course, the brand announces unprecedented levels of comfort on the road (it is not that difficult given the extreme champion character of the previous Defender) and the ability to make long trips.

The interior has focused, as it could not be otherwise, from a practical point of view. For starters, it will offer an interesting versatility, both in the long body version (Defender 110, the first to reach the market, 5.01 meters) and in the short version (Defender 90, 4.58).

In the first one we can ask for a configuration of five seats, six (by including a front auxiliary seat) or 5 + 2 (understanding that the third row will only be suitable for children, although the manufacturer does not specify it in the previous information that has provided us). The short body will only be offered with six seats.

Details that nostalgic will like: the folding canvas roof available as an option, the rubber floor (much easier to clean after an expedition to the field) or the structural details in sight that are part of the interior design. Ah! and that there will also be commercial and transformed versions.

What the 21st century Defender has not been able to resist is personalization. In fact, it will be the Land Rover that makes more accessories available to its customers to make it unique (in the style that Jeep is giving such a good result).

It will have three versions ( the First Edition model available during the first year of commercialization with special equipment, the high-end Defender and Defender X ) and the traditional S, SE and HSE finishes. All this can be completed with four customization packages: Explorer, Adventure, Country and Urban.

All Defender will release a new infotainment system with a touch screen that is easier to handle and the software update capability via wireless.

Although they will not reach the market at exactly the same time, Land Rover has already communicated the starting prices for each of the bodies. The Defender 110 (the first to land) will start at 61,300 euros while the Defender 90 will start from 54,800 .

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