The Land Rover Defender line-up has been shuffled, with the addition of an expensive new seven-seater, a stronger diesel engine – and a plug-in hybrid that makes use of a (opposite to info initially circulated by JLR) four-cylinder engine.
The revamp comes 4 years after the launch of the L663-generation Defender and, whereas not as substantial as a full-blown facelift, ushers in a spread of vital mechanical and beauty tweaks, together with a reorganisation of the trim construction.
The headline change for the up to date Defender comes below the bonnet, the place the D300 diesel engine has been swapped for the stronger D350 from the Vary Rover, boosting outputs by 49bhp and 37lb ft – to 345bhp and 516lb ft – with the consequence that “all the pieces from overtaking to towing is much more easy”, says JLR.
JLR has not revealed any efficiency figures for the brand new engine, however little question it’s going to enhance barely on the D300’s 7.0sec 0-62mph time.
So too has the P400 Ingenium straight-six petrol been changed by a 419bhp model of JLR’s supercharged 5.0-litre V8. In the meantime, the plug-in hybrid Defender swaps its P400e association for a detuned P300e set-up, although – opposite to info beforehand given by JLR – nonetheless with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, fairly than the three-pot utilized by the Evoque and Discovery Sport.
The adjustments have been made to be able to make the Defender compliant with Euro 6e emissions laws, so little question the petrol straight six will quickly even be retired from the Discovery, Vary Rover and Vary Rover Sport line-ups.
Chief among the many cabin upgrades is the introduction of a brand new Captain Chairs pack for the three-row Defender 130, which swaps the center bench for a pair of particular person armchairs – with entry in between for the rearmost three seats.
Heated and ventilated as commonplace, and with quick access to a pair of cupholders within the center, the captain chairs are stated to convey “front-row consolation to these travelling in row two”, and can be found on Defender X and V8 fashions.
