Land Rover Expands Defender Lineup for 2021 Model Year

CAPABILITY: REDEFINING BREADTH OF CAPABILITY

Configurable Terrain Response⁴ makes its debut in New Defender, allowing drivers to set-up the vehicle to suit the precise off-road conditions. The Terrain Response 2 system also includes a new Wade program³ which optimizes all of the vehicle systems accordingly.

Strong and tough body structure

Raising the position of the body by 0.8in compared to the Land Rover brand’s existing range of large SUVs, and relocating elements including the battery and cooling circuits, has enabled Land Rover engineers to deliver ultra-short front and rear overhangs, which boasts impressive approach and departure angles of 38 and 40 degrees respectively. With a wheelbase of 119in (3.9in longer than a Discovery) the 110 has a breakover angle of 28 degrees (31 degrees for the 90) ensuring excellent off-road geometry*.

The short rear overhang, the same for both body designs, is made possible by mounting the spare wheel externally, rather than under the rear floor, where it is readily accessible off-road, and the trademark side-hinged rear door is engineered to accommodate any of the available wheel and tire combinations.

Sophisticated chassis

The monocoque body construction developed for the New Defender has a stiff aluminum body, able to withstand 6.5 tons snatch load through the recovery points. This strong, stiff structure provides the perfect foundations for the 4×4’s advanced all-independent suspension. The sophisticated double wishbone front and integral link rear suspension optimizes off-road performance while delivering excellent handling dynamics and comes with a choice of coil spring or Electronic Air Suspension – offered standard on Defender 90 First Edition and X variants, as well as all Defender 110 models.

The familiar suspension layout uses all-new components to deliver world-class durability with new steel subframes and uprated ball joints and bushes that are designed to withstand several off-road impacts – the wheels can withstand up to seven tons of vertical load into the body. As a result, the New Defender delivers an unmatched breadth of capability, combining long-haul cruising comfort and rewarding handling characteristics with immediate responses and peerless off-road performance.

Available Adaptive Dynamics allows customers to adjust driving characteristics. The system’s adaptive dampers monitor body movements up to 500 times per second and respond almost instantaneously to optimize body control and comfort.

The confidence-inspiring and sure-footed New Defender excels off-road, where its maximum suspension articulation of 19.7in comes into its own. It can tackle 45-degree side slopes and inclines of 45 degrees with customary composure, but the biggest transformation comes on the road, where the New Defender is engaging and agile.

A transformational breadth of capability sets New Defender apart. Permanent four-wheel drive and a twin-speed transfer case, center differential and optional Active Locking Rear Differential helps ensure it has all the hardware required to excel in the soft sand of the desert, the freezing tundra of the arctic and just about everywhere in between.

Powertrains

Customers can choose between a turbocharged four-cylinder P300 engine and an efficient six-cylinder P400 Mild-Hybrid (MHEV) powertrain.

The inline six-cylinder Ingenium gasoline engine, with MHEV technology, features both a conventional twin-scroll turbocharger and an advanced 48-volt electric supercharger, with a belt-integrated starter motor in place of the alternator to assist the gasoline engine, and a 48-volt lithium-ion battery to store energy captured as the vehicle slows down. All engines drive through a smooth and responsive eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox and twin-speed transfer case, to provide a set of low-range ratios essential for towing or off-road driving when more control is required.

Configurable Terrain Response

Land Rover has introduced a series of technologies to help deliver the capability customers expect from a Defender vehicle, including the latest generation of its patented Terrain Response system. Configurable Terrain Response technology allows drivers to use the touchscreen of the new Pivi Pro infotainment to suit its precise surroundings.

In the original Defender, drivers could lock the central differential manually using the high-to-low range gear selector. In the New Defender, drivers can prevent cross-axle slip using the Center Slip Limited and Center and Rear Slip Limited options on the central touchscreen controller. In addition, there is a choice of three settings for the throttle and gearbox response, steering and traction control, allowing experienced off-roaders and all-terrain novices to tailor the vehicle set-up to suit their requirements. The system allows four individual profiles to be saved, so different drivers can quickly activate their preferred settings.

Alternatively, the intelligent Auto functionality of Terrain Response 2 can recognize the surface and configure the vehicle appropriately without input from the driver⁴.

The Defender is also the first Land Rover vehicle to feature a Wade program within the Terrain Response 2 menu. The new setting automatically softens the throttle response, sets the heating and ventilation to recirculate cabin air, locks the driveline and adjusts the ride height to its off-road setting while activating the Wade Sensing³ screen on the infotainment system. This allows drivers to see the depth of surrounding water and provides confidence when fording  – allowing drivers to take full advantage of the world-class maximum wading depth of 35.4in.

Land Rover advanced All-Terrain Progress Control and ClearSight Ground View⁷ technologies also support drivers in extreme off-road situations, showing the hidden area directly in front of the vehicle using the central touchscreen.

Towing and carrying

The strong body architecture of the New Defender helps customers make more of their world, whether they want to tow heavy loads or carry them, with a comprehensive range of roof racks and tow bar systems, and a maximum towing capacity of 8,201lb. State-of-the-art technologies include available Advanced Tow Assist⁴, which takes the stress out of difficult reversing maneuvers by letting drivers steer trailers with their fingertips using a rotary controller on the central console. New for the Defender, the intelligent setup works with 3D visualization on the central touchscreen².

The ultra-strong body is ready for overland adventures, with a maximum roof load of 370lb making it perfectly suited to both camping trips and visits to the hardware store. The 661lb maximum static roof load¹ allows adventurous souls to make use of the expedition-ready pop-up roof tent accessory, turning the Defender into an all-terrain home away from home.

The second-row seatbacks are split 40:20:40 for maximum flexibility, while loadspace rails on the floor of the luggage space come with a range of load retention accessories to prevent smaller items from moving around inside. A lockable Security Box provides added protection on overland adventures – the heavy-duty steel box secures to the loadspace rails and is big enough to hold laptops, tablets and other valuables. In addition, all Defender SUVs feature a lockable 1.5 gallon glovebox and deep door pockets. The exposed cross car beam also doubles as a shelf to provide 1.83 gallon of open storage.

The Defender has always been the perfect companion for outdoor adventures and the new model is no different. The clip-in loadspace cover is designed to double as a ground mat for picnics or when changing mucky footwear on wet surfaces. The hose-clean and machine washable material is another example of the rugged and practical design of the New Defender.

The versatile loadspace is both big and clever. A switch panel inside the rear door allows customers to adjust the rear ride height of the Electronic Air Suspension. Customers can also specify a tow hitch receiver, allowing them to make full use of the vehicle’s 8201lbs maximum towing weight.

Photos: Land Rover