The Land Rover Defender is the most recognisable car to come from the brand in its history, but 2016 saw the end of its production run as it couldn’t keep up with emissions and safety regulations.
But 2020 will see the Defender nameplate make its return to the market, with the model expected to be officially unveiled at some point in 2019.
Although there is little that has been said about it as of yet, we run through what we know about the next Defender…
First off, we know that it is out testing near the brand’s headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, as spy shots of the upcoming model have been released. It shows that the Defender will retain its boxy shape of old, but will come with softer edges to match the rest of the Land Rover line-up.
It will also be fitted with Jaguar Land Rover’s Ingenium engine line-up, which include 2.0-litre diesel and petrol units, but larger engines are expected to be added in the form of in-line six cylinder units instead of more traditional V6s.
See Available Land Rover dealsDespite being an all-new model, it is likely customers will get to choose from different wheelbase options and the amount of doors as before, with the short wheelbase model similar to the Defender 90 and the long wheelbase like the 110 version. A soft-top version is also expected, helping the Defender fill void left by its predecessor.
As is the case with other Land Rover models, a Sport model is likely to be in the works, but that won’t be seen for a long time yet.
Even though it will be a rugged off-roader like before, the new Defender will be crammed with safety assistance systems to make it much more viable on the road.
The new Defender is likely to be a favourite among petrolheads if it is anything like before, but the modernisation of the moniker is only going to help it survive and thrive for a new generation.