The iconic Land Rover Defender features a boxy shape and it’s considered as one of the most capable vehicles there are. Land Rover unveiled the Defender in 1948, but it was stopped being produced at the beginning of 2016 due to safety and emissions regulations. Nevertheless, this off-roading icon will have its successor is coming in 2020 and some spy shots of the prototype have appeared.
Land Rover decided to redesign this vehicle and took the more difficult route. It didn’t only update the original design to meet the latest regulations, but it has also increased its size. Moreover, it toughened up the stance and hid the contours of the hood and roof and the design of the rear canopy under thick camouflage gear. At the front, there are extremely short overhangs.
The spy pictures and video which appeared are of the 5-door Defender, but a 3-door model is also being produced. The company also plans plenty of different body styles, and the 3-door model could end up as a Defender Sport. Likewise, Land Rover plans to produce plug-in hybrid and full electric Defenders.
Even though Defender was to be redesigned in 2015, there were delays due to frequent design changes. Thus, it is now confirmed that the new Land Rover Defender will launch in 2020 and it will probably arrive at a 2021 model.
It will be positioned as a premium offering and it will be based on a new platform known as the Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA). This SUV will share the same platform with next-generation versions of the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and Discovery. Hence, it will feature a new rear design and fully independent suspension front and rear. In order to maintain superior performance off-road, this vehicle will keep the multiple differential locks and a low-range transfer case.
It is assumed that the powertrains will come with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 on the base option, as well as, an electric motor in plug-in hybrid guise. The plug-in hybrid versions will feature 398 horsepower, 472 pound-feet of torque and a turbocharged 6-cylinder.
The 2021 Land Rover Defender will be revealed this year and its price is likely to stand at somewhere between the $53,085 of the Discovery and $67,745 of the Range Rover Sport. It is very likely that the 2021 Land Rover Defender will be similar in price to the Discovery model.
