The Land Rover Defender line-up has been shuffled in international markets, with the addition of a luxurious new three-row version, a more potent diesel engine, and a plug-in hybrid that uses a three-cylinder engine.
The revamp comes four years after the unveil of the L663-generation Defender and, while not as substantial as a full-blown facelift, this update ushers in a range of important mechanical and cosmetic tweaks, along with a reorganisation of the trim structure.
- Defender D300 diesel now makes 350hp, up by 50hp
- Defender PHEV’s 2.0-litre four-cyl replaced with 1.5-litre three-cyl unit
- Defender 130 now gets captain chairs in the second row as an option
The headline change for the updated Defender comes under the bonnet, where the D300 diesel engine has been swapped for the more potent D350 from the Range Rover, boosting outputs by 50hp and 50Nm – to 350hp and 700Nm – with the result that “everything from overtaking to towing is even more effortless”, says JLR. The company has not revealed any performance figures for the new engine, but no doubt it will improve slightly on the D300's 7.0sec 0-100kph time.
So too has the P400 Ingenium straight-six petrol been replaced by a 425hp version of JLR's supercharged 5.0-litre V8. In addition, the plug-in hybrid Defender swaps its 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine for the P300e arrangement used in the Evoque and Discovery Sport PHEVs; the Defender P300e has a 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine that combined with the electric motors makes a combined 310hp.
The changes have been made in order to make the Defender compliant with Euro 6e emissions legislation, so no doubt the straight-six petrol engine will soon also be retired from the Discovery, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport line-ups in international markets.
Chief among the cabin upgrades is the introduction of a new Captain Chairs pack for the three-row Defender 130, which swaps the middle bench for a pair of individual armchairs – with access in between for the rearmost three seats. With heating and ventilation as standard, and with easy access to a pair of cupholders in the middle, the captain chairs are said to bring “front-row comfort to those travelling in row two”, and are available on Defender X and V8 models.
They can also be added to the Defender X-Dynamic HSE as part of a new Signature Interior pack, which brings 14-way electrically adjustable front seats, heated third-row seats, Windsor leather and Kvadrat upholstery, and a bespoke colour scheme for the interior trim.
There is also a new 'Sedona' edition of the 110 revealed. It wears bespoke red paintwork, a black trim pack and – optionally – a bonnet decal depicting the rocky terrain of the eponymous desert town in Arizona.
In markets abroad, the Defender is now available in a simplified range of trims comprising S, X-Dynamic SE, X-Dynamic HSE, X and V8 variants, with the same choice of 90, 110 and 130 bodystyles.
Land Rover Defender in India
Whether these updates to the Defender’s line-up will be seen in India is yet to be confirmed. Land Rover currently has the Defender on sale in the country in 90, 110 and 130 bodystyles, priced from Rs 98.5 lakh, Rs 97 lakh and Rs 1.39 crore, respectively. There are five powertrain options on offer – 2.0-litre and 3.0-litre turbo-petrols, a 3.0-litre diesel, a 5.0-litre V8 petrol and a 2.0-litre petrol-plug-in hybrid.
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