Land Rover Defender Models
When Land Rover expanded its lineup in 1990, the Defender name was chosen for a model line that would evolve into a luxury “sport-ute” brand. The 4×4 purists liked the 2007 remodeling that retained the iconic “moving fortress” look instead of yielding to a new-age design. The Defender is sold in three wheelbase lengths, and its brawny ladder-frame chassis carries five different body styles.
In Europe, 51% of all vehicles sold are diesels. The 2007 engine upgrade brought in a five-cylinder, common-rail 2.4-litre turbo-diesel from Ford Europe to power this Defender. Producing a modest 120 horsepower, the Land Rover Defender’s ample torque is where it gets its grunt, producing 265 lb-ft between 2200 and 4350 rpm. Combined with locking differential and a two-speed transfer case, the six-speed transmission delivers the power seamlessly.
Besides the engine, other 2007 upgrades began the still-ongoing refinement of the Land Rover Defender’s interior. Judging solely on interior quality, this model is surely not a Range Rover, not even an entry-level LR3. However, the cleanly redesigned dash hints with its pair of new circular vents that an improved HVAC system is on board. Okay, so the Defender can now keep you comfortable in the rough terrain. But is it practical for the city?
The product of continued development of the original Land Rover Series launched in 1948, it uses the basic yet robust underpinnings of a ladder frame chassis and aluminium body and is available in a huge variety of body types from the manufacturer, plus many more specialist versions such as fire engines.
With 90-inch and 110-inch wheelbases, the latest Defender is the ultimate 4x4 or wagon. The compact 90 has seating for four, while the 110 can be equipped with either five or seven seats. A Defender can accommodate as many as seven adults in comfort, with each person enjoying ample leg and shoulder room. Rubber floor mats are easily washed, and storage compartments make the Land Rover Defender very practical and functional vehicle. A CD unit, and MP3 and iPod compatibility make the outback journey a pleasurable one. The seats are supportive and comfortable.
I could imagine the new Land Rover Defender to be driven in the hands of a hairy chested bush-basher. But again it could equally be driven around town on the school run by Mum. The vehicle is simple to drive, and with a weight of close on two tonnes the big 4x4 sits on the road agreeably. With smaller dimensions, the Land Rover 90 is about 200 kg lighter than the 110 model.
Effortless power from the Defender’s refined 2.4-litre diesel comes from a power output of 90 kW and a class-leading 360 Nm of torque - with 90 percent of peak power on tap from less than 2200rpm to over 4350rpm. The engine is designed to meet modern emissions legislation and features an Anti-Stall device.
This is the legendary Defender. Off road, no one else comes close.
I love taking on the rough stuff head on and having a decent play in the mud. I guess they do say that some kids never grow up! There ain’t no better way to tackle the hard yards in Australia than in a Land Rover Defender. Yes, this is the king of the mud, king of the dust, king of the rough, king of the outback.
What makes the Land Rover Defender such a weapon off road is its ability to find traction where other marques can’t. If you want to take on pebbles the size of dinosaurs’ eggs and slopes steeper than an A-Frame roof, you best be piloting a Defender. To experience slopes that send you hanging forward against your seat belt is fun. Fun I tell ya!
It all starts with the transmission. Land Rover’s meanest, the Defender, is the most off road capable in their quality line-up. Permanent four-wheel drive ensures power is sent to all four wheels continuously, on or off road. The Defender simply remains sure-footed and unstoppable. A robust dual-range transfer box provides its drivers with twelve forward and two reverse gears. ETC is standard on the big 110 station wagon applies a braking force to any wheel that's accelerating more quickly than the others. Huge power is therefore given to the wheels with the most traction the key to the Defender’s formidable clasp on the terrain ahead. When confronting difficult off-road driving conditions, the centre differential can be locked. This forces engine torque to be split fed equally between each axle. Superior traction over loose ground, mud, ice or snow is the result. If any significant difference between wheel speeds is detected during heavy braking, the four-channel Anti-lock Braking System is designed to automatically reduce the braking force applied to that wheel, helping the driver to retain control. ABS is also standard on the 110 station wagon. Excellent axle articulation, thanks to its coil sprung suspension, also plays its part in keeping the Defender at the front of the pack off road. The solid coil sprung suspension helps the wheels to maintain contact with the ground and follow the contours of rough surfaces.
Every drive off road is enhanced by the Defender's six-speed transmission. It has been specially developed for heavy-duty applications. The transmission is now lighter, stronger and provides smoother on-road performance too. A lower first gear reduces the crawl speed for tackling big dinosaur eggs, and it combines superbly with the increased engine torque to make towing effortless. Defender's startlingly quiet 2.4 litre diesel engine produces an exceptional 360 Nm of torque and ninety percent of peak power is on tap from under 2200 rpm to over 4,350rpm. The engine's unique tuning can withstand the variable quality, high-sulphur fuels to be found in some of the more remote parts of the world.
Incredibly, since its debut in 1948, there are still over seventy five percent of all Defenders made still in use. The cornerstone of the Defender's design is in its immensely strong chassis which imparts strength, versatility, durability and capability. The ladder frame design is far stronger than any open channel design and more adaptable than some of its competitors' unibody designs. The lightweight aluminium body is tough, with a no-nonsense simplicity and an adaptable slab-sided profile that's easier to configure.
Go and play. Grab yourself a Land Rover Defender today and hit the back roads and beyond. A Defender comes in so many versions that youre sure to find the exact Land Rover Defender to suit your needs.
I go wheeling in ICELAND! Took the Range Rover from Aberdeen to Seydisfjordur via Northlink and Smyril ferries. Toured the east, south, west and visited Hofn, Seljalandfoss, Gigjokull, Hekla, Fljotsdalur, Thorsmork, Hveravellir, Myvatn and Reykjavik plus all the obvious tourist sites. Drove through Kjolur and visited Saenautasel. Met lots of very kind Icelanders. - And many other places.
This July we return with the Defender to visit our Icelandic friends and to see Snaefell, Karahnukar, Herdubreid, Askja, Landmannalaugar, Markarfljot, Sprengisandur and revisit many places we have seen befor
Front-seat riders will find the Defender inviting, but positioning is awkward in the rear seats as the twin buckets sit high, and are now forward-facing. The leather seats and a/c are expected, of course, although optional on lower-trim models. Somewhat unexpected, however, is a basic CD-equipped stereo as an option on the base model. As a sop to audiophiles, perhaps, the top XS trim levels offer standard iPod compatibility.
It would be easy to simply forget the urban jungle and take the Land Rover Defender’s 10-inch-minimum ground clearance on a full-time all-wheel drive through a real jungle. Being jarred around town should remind you that the double-live-axle, coil-spring suspension is begging to claw its way up (and down) some 40-degree grades, not avoid potholes or cruise the highway. Certainly the Defender can do that, but you might as cage a gazelle at the zoo. This baby wants to climb, slide, dodge boulders and ford streams. You can keep it in polite company, of course, but if you want to get your money’s worth from a Land Rover Defender, you’ll take it in the dirt let it play rough.
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