The Defender you see here is nearly a quarter of a century old, but Osprey Custom Cars made sure it looks and handles like new.
This short-wheelbase, three-door SUV is the first finished restomod out of a planned batch of three. It utilizes a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 engine to propel itself forward with 441 PS (435 hp / 324 kW) and 603 Nm (450 lb-ft) of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission with a transfer case and an inter-axle diff lock sends the momentum to both axles.
urther technical highlights include aftermarket cylinder heads, a performance exhaust system, active powertrain cooling, and stainless-steel fuel lines. Both axles and cardan shafts have been replaced with heavy-duty counterparts, and the same applies to the brakes.
On the outside, the Defender sports new bodywork, doors, radiator grille, and the soft top mentioned above. Black wheels shod in mud tires fill out the arches.
Rounding things off is a leather cabin housing an up-to-date infotainment system, a center console, wireless phone charging pads, and a start/stop button, among other niceties.
The Land Rover Defender is a car that has a weight of expectations on its shoulders.
Its job is to replace the original Defender – which kept virtually the same design for almost 70 years and is perhaps the most beloved off roader of all time.
The all new Defender was launched last year and I drove it then at Land Rover’s off road centre in Dunkeld. I spent a day crawling over rocks, wading through streams, crossing hillsides and exploring forests.
Going off road
That was more than enough to realise the new Land Rover Defender is even more capable off road than its predecessor. Indeed, it will probably get you further into the wilderness than any other 4×4 in the world.
I’ve just spent a week with the Defender and was able to investigate its on-road capabilities.
It’s a very handsome car. Land Rover haven’t tried to mimic the original Defender but have come up with something modern and purposeful.
The Land Rover Defender comes in either 110 guise – with four doors and a huge boot – or the compact 90 version I drove, which has two doors and less space inside.
It’s around £5,000 cheaper – the 90 costs from £40,290 with the 110 starting at £45,240. The two-door model is around 45cm shorter than its big brother. This makes it easier to manoeuvre around town. It’s no supermini but it will at least fit into a supermarket parking space.
The flipside is a smaller boot. While the 110 Defender has a gargantuan 1,075 litres of cargo space the 90 makes do with just 397. That’s only slightly more than you get in a Ford Focus.
Performance and comfort
Under the bonnet is a 2.5 litre V6 diesel engine. It’s available with 200, 250 or 300bhp. I drove the 250bhp version which, with a 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds, is more than quick enough.
My Defender was the SE model, which adds luxuries including keyless entry, heated electric memory front seats, electric steering column, and upgrades the wheels from 18in to 20in.
The press demonstrator I drove had an additional £10,000 of optional extras fitted, including a £1,800 folding fabric roof, a £2,200 Towing Pack and air suspension at £1,685.
Of these, air suspension is the one I would most recommend shelling out for. Indeed, on-road comfort is where the new Defender really amazed me. The old version was peerless off road but awful on road – bouncy, noisy and exhausting on anything but short journeys.
I drove the Defender to the far west of Dumfriesshire, a journey of 3.5 hours, and emerged from the car totally relaxed. Smooth suspension, a whisper quiet interior, comfortable seats and a high driving position make it a fantastic long distance cruiser. In fact, it’s even better off road and virtually as good on road as the more expensive Land Rover Discovery.
The downside is the heavy four-wheel drive Defender is thirsty. Official fuel economy is 32.8mpg but in reality you can expect mpg in the high 20s at best.
Some could find the interior a little too plush for its intended purpose. Farmers may want to throw a tup in the back from time to time, or tree surgeons a chainsaw and a pile of rounds.
Designed for the outdoors
Look closely though and everything is designed to be hard wearing and easy to wipe down. Flooring is rubber and door panels contain plenty of exposed metal that should resist dirt, oil and other grime.
The Land Rover Defender will tow 3.5 tonnes. The (optional) winch can pull 4.5 tonnes. It will wade through 90cm deep water. You can carry 168kg on the roof while on the move, or put 300kg up there when it’s standing still (a rooftop tent is an optional extra).
Front, side and rear cameras mean it’s easy to keep an eye on the vehicle’s edges when pulling tricky off road manoeuvres.
Of course, buyers should go for the 110 Defender. Rear doors and a huge boot are worth paying a little extra for. However I found myself absurdly fond of the 90 and it was with sadness that I handed back the keys.
Its astonishing go-anywhere ability means the Land Rover Defender will be overkill for the vast majority of buyers. It is an incredibly capable vehicle though, and this model’s fantastic comfort means it is now as capable on road as it is off road.
This particular Defender prefers tarmac to gravel.
It’s safe to say that the all-new Land Rover Defender is a success. The British marque has battled to keep up with strong demand for the SUV, which has proved itself to be a superb off-roader. But there is a group of buyers who will also buy the Defender for its appearance and image, not necessarily to go hunting down Jeeps in the wild. For them, Manhart has just revealed its new Defender DP 500. The German tuner has gained prominence for making some already great sports cars even better than the stock model, so it’s no surprise that the DP 500 is a Defender with upgrades aimed at making it even better on-road, but maybe not as good off-tarmac.
As a starting point, Manhart used a Defender 110 P400. The stock P400 power plant is a 3.0-liter six-cylinder with turbocharging and a mild hybrid system that already produces a strong 395 horsepower (Manhart quotes the slightly higher 400 cv figure) and 406 lb-ft of torque. Naturally, Manhart thought that wasn’t quite brawny enough and increased outputs to 505 mechanical horsepower and 524 lb-ft with an engine control software remap, making it nearly as powerful as the new Defender V8. Manhart will also offer the option of lowering the suspension by 30 mm (about 1.2 inches) and a special stainless steel exhaust system with carbon or ceramic-coated tailpipes is said to be on the way.
Added performance aside, Manhart’s DP 500 looks as aggressive as any BMW M or Mercedes-AMG SUV. It rides on enormous 24-inch Manhart Forged Line wheels although smaller 22-inch wheels for off-road use are also available – we imagine without the suspension drop. This Defender also gets wing flares and silver stripes which contrast nicely with black paint. The cabin is highlighted by a mix of leather/Alcantara with various accent choices and Manhart ErgoMed front seats from Recaro. The tuner’s product page didn’t list an overall price for all these upgrades although the ECU software mapping does cost €2,973 ($3,550 at current rates) and the lowered, optimized air suspension costs €499 ($596).
Revived for the 2020 model year, the all-new Land Rover Defender already has 164 manufacturer communications and nine complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As far as recalls are concerned, the unibody off-road luxobarge is called back over a powertrain control module that may unexpectedly switch off while driving the vehicle.
The chronology of events opens with an investigation from March 26th following a number of quality reports. The engineering team reported back that more than 10 milliseconds of runtime trigger the PCM to switch off, a problem that was traced back to the Connected Diagnostic Services system.
How does Land Rover plan to fix the software-based issue? According to recall documentation, an over-the-air update has been designed to switch off the CDS and disable the over-the-air diagnostics functionality. If the remote update can’t be successfully completed, the customer will be notified and advised to visit an authorized dealer to have the software updated manually.
No fewer than 163 units of the Defender with the six-cylinder engine are called back, all of them built from April 8th, 2020 to January 12th, 2021 at the British automaker’s Nitra assembly plant in Slovakia. Land Rover mentions that no accidents, fires, or injuries are connected to this concern, and known owners will be informed of the recall by first-class mail on July 30th.
This, however, isn’t the only callback of the Defender. Over in the Land Down Under, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has recalled 533 examples of six-cylinder turbo diesel-engined vehicles over exhaust downpipe fixing nuts that haven’t been tightened to specification.
Pretty much never a byword for quality or reliability, Land Rover also has a bit of a problem with the Defender’s image. The Fast Lane’s four-cylinder turbo model comes to mind after throwing a check light with 167 miles (267 kilometers) on the clock. As fate would have it, dealer technicians and JLR engineers couldn’t fix the issue, warranting a replacement engine.
Fleet of Defender 110s to transport athletes, medical crew and support staff over 1,238km of alpine terrain as 32 competitors combine hiking, ultra-running, mountaineering and paragliding in a true test of human endurance and stamina
Perfect partnership: Award-winning Land Rover Defender to play vital role as a support vehicle at the world’s toughest adventure race – the Red Bull X-Alps 2021
Behind the scenes: A fleet of Defender 110 models will transport athletes, medical crew and support staff throughout the challenge, over 1,238km of alpine terrain
Rugged accommodation: The 4×4 will be a home-from-home for participants, who will sleep onboard using the bespoke Autohome roof tent* developed for the Defender 110
Extreme endurance: 12-day competition combines hiking, ultra-running, mountaineering and paragliding across five countries – Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and France
Adventurous pedigree: Land Rover has more than 73 years of expedition heritage, making it the perfect official vehicle partner for the extreme Red Bull X-Alps
Choose your model: New Defender 90 Hard Top is priced from £35,820 OTR (ex. VAT), 110 Hard Top from £43,012 OTR (ex. VAT), 90 is priced from £43,625 and 110 starts at £45,315 in the UK
The award-winning Land Rover Defender will demonstrate its capability and durability as a support vehicle for the extreme Red Bull X-Alps. As official vehicle partner, Land Rover will provide a fleet of Defender 110s to support the world’s toughest adventure race.
Red Bull X-Alps athletes will negotiate more than 1,200km of demanding alpine landscape in up to 12 days, from 20 June to 2 July 2021. Each of the 32 competitors will combine hiking, ultra-running, mountaineering and paragliding in a true test of human endurance and stamina. On a typical day, the athletes can expect to hike over 50km with vertical ascents of up to 5,000m, burning as many as 6,000 calories.
Land Rover’s most capable and durable 4×4 will provide unstoppable transport and shelter from the ever-changing conditions, while carrying vital supplies and equipment. The rugged 4x4s will come kitted with Autohome Roof Tents to aid athletes and crew members in their much-needed recovery, providing a safe and comfortable place to rest.
Seven of the athletes will be supported by Land Rover, including six-time Red Bull X-Alps winner Christian Maurer of Switzerland. Joining him are Red Bull X-Alps veterans Paul Guschlbauer (Austria), Gavin McClurg (USA), Tobias Grossrubatscher (Italy) and Markus Anders (Germany), who have participated in 11 races between them. There will also be debuts for Laurie Genovese (France) and Théo de Blic (France) as part of #TeamLandRover.
Land Rover is synonymous with endurance adventures and the Defender will play a vital role in the Red Bull X-Alps challenge, supporting the competitors and race organisers as they battle the elements across the 1,238km course. Its unstoppable capability and practical cabin mean it promises to be one constant throughout the 12-day event that participants will be able to rely on come rain or shine.
ULRICH GRILL RACE ORGANISER
The role of support vehicle will see crew members test the Defender’s expedition credentials to the extreme. With a maximum payload of up to 900kg, dynamic roof load of 168kg and static of 300kg, each vehicle will be loaded with equipment and supplies. Terrain Response 2 technology – including world-first Configurable Terrain Response – will allow the drivers to fine-tune the vehicle to suit their driving preferences and the conditions.
Accessories including Land Rover’s Portable Rinse System, Exterior Side-Mounted Gear Carriers and Integrated Air Compressors will combine with Defender’s integrated 4G Wi-Fi connectivity and the Autohome Roof Tents to give competitors everything they need to rest and recover properly at the end of each day and to complete the epic event
Following its world premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2019, Defender has won more than 58 international awards, including the 2021 World Car Design of the Year title at the annual World Car Awards.
Land Rover has also introduced its range of powerful and efficient in-line six-cylinder Ingenium diesel engines, featuring Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) technology, and its advanced P400e Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), which provides an all-electric range of up to 27 miles (43km) and CO2 emissions of 74g/km**.
