The Land Rover Defender, built for decades, was and is a collector's item.

Besides his likable quirks, he had only two problems: the regulatory authorities and customers in North America.

Some no longer wanted to let it out on the street, others could never buy one regularly.

Both things have changed with the new model, and after just one year the United States has become the largest sales market.

Germany ranks further back, after all, around 3000 pieces have found an owner in this country.

So the new one also remains a niche model, which fans should welcome.

For them, the choice is now even greater.

Holger Appel

Editor in business, responsible for "Technology and Engine".

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Land Rover pushes the brilliant V8, which gave us some pleasure on a first test lap. The machine does not show its power in the gym-steel like an AMG, it shows its sovereignty almost shyly. There is little lacking. Eight-cylinder with compressor, 5 liter displacement, 525 HP and 625 Nm torque do not fail to have a pleasant effect. Increased fuel consumption is to be expected, even if the Defender is not propelled from 0 to 100 km / h in 5.2 seconds and to the top of 240 km / h. We really like the fully black outfit of the test car, which extends to the top of the roof; it is more likely to be worn on the boulevard than on a safari.

If you want to be more contemporary, you can use the plug-in hybrid instead, which, when you get vitamin E from the socket, creeps up 43 kilometers electrically. We used it to go up a hypertensive ramp under power, which could hardly be climbed on foot. The electric machine allows sensitive dosing on the accelerator pedal in case a wheel sticks out over the abyss again. Of course, you have to be content with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine, which, when combined, has 404 system horsepower. The model called P 400e is only available in the long version 110. For those who value pulling power and economy, a diesel is still the first choice, the fat 3-liter six-cylinder fits the Defender perfectly and shows excellent manners.

The power spectrum now encompasses 200 to 525 hp. The price list ranges from 53,000 to 127,000 euros for the fresh V8.