AUTOMOTIVE

THE ALL-NEW 2020 DEFENDER Land Rover Redesigns an Icon for the Future.

Redesigning an icon is never easy, but Land Rover has succeeded in crafting a new Defender that embodies 70 years of Land Rover DNA in a package that is both handsome and practical.

“The new Defender is respectful of its past but is not harnessed by it,” said Gerry McGovern, Land Rover’s chief design officer, in press materials. “This is a new Defender for a New Age. Its unique personality is accentuated by its distinctive silhouette and optimum proportions, which make it both highly desirable and seriously capable – a visually compelling 4x4 that wears its design and engineering integrity with uncompromised commitment.”

The Defender has a lightweight all-aluminum monocoque, or unibody, structure that is three times more rigid than a traditional body-on-frame design.

There are two versions: a short-wheelbase twodoor Defender 90 that will be available later in the year and a four-door, long-wheelbase Defender 110. The base Defender, with a turbocharged fourcylinder engine that puts out 296 horsepower, begins at $49,900. The Defender S starts at $53,350. Moving up to the Defender SE P400, with a mild-hybrid-electric six-cylinder engine pumping out 395 horsepower, the base price is $62,250. The Defender HSE is $68,350, the Defender First Edition is $68,650 and the Defender X begins at $80,900.

2020 LAND ROVER DEFENDER

Engine: MHEV 3.0-liter, 395-horsepower six-cylinder Transmission: 8-speed automatic All-wheel drive Wheelbase: 101.9 inches Curb weight: 5,034 pounds Base price: $62,250 As driven: $71,230 MPG rating: 17 in the city, 22 on the highway

The vehicle driven here was a Defender SE with a sticker price of $71,230.

The Defender 110 comes in five-, six-, or seven-passenger configurations. The seven-passenger configuration has a thirdrow seat with room for two. The six-passenger model has a front bench seat with a middle section that can fold forward to create an armrest. Three-across front seating is very rare these days.

The Defender 110 is big inside. The back seat has tons of legroom, and the cargo area is substantial. The exposed powdercoated magnesium cross-car beam that spans the instrument panel is integral to the overall strength of the body structure. It is available in a range of finishes and has integrated grab handles to aid entry. There are ample storage bins and cubbies throughout the interior, a phone charging pad and several plugs for phones, tablets, or laptops.

The functional heart of the cabin is the Pivi Pro system, accessed through a 10-inch high-resolution touchscreen, which allows customers to control numerous aspects of the vehicle using the same processing hardware as the latest smartphones. In addition, customers can connect two mobile devices at once using Bluetooth2.

The system accepts over-the-air software updates and various apps such as music streaming. Learning the touchscreen takes some time but it is not much different than most cell phones.

Let’s take a closer look at the powertrain options. The fourcylinder has a twin-scroll turbocharger that delivers 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It can accelerate the vehicle to 60 miles per hour in 7.7 seconds. The more interesting engine is the mild-hybrid six-cylinder that has both a twinscroll turbocharger and a 48-volt electric supercharger. The starter motor replaces the alternator to assist the engine under acceleration, while the 48-volt lithium-ion battery stores energy captured as the vehicle slows down. Total power output is 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. This engine propels the vehicle to 60 miles per hour in 5.8 seconds. The Defender can tow 8,201 pounds with either engine. Both engines are coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and a two-speed transfer case that provides extra-low gearing for towing and offroad use.

The six-cylinder engine delivers excellent power right from idle. Full-throttle acceleration is quite impressive for a vehicle that weighs 5,034 pounds. The eight-speed transmission always seems to be in the right gear for any circumstance and the shifts are smooth.

While I did not have an opportunity to try the Defender offroad, Land Rovers are known for their off-road capability, and if history is an indicator, the Defender should be outstanding. An actuator-controlled piston operated by the foot pedal applies braking effort, delivering much finer control. Land Rover says

this new system is handy during low-speed off-road maneuvers and when the traction control and emergency braking systems are triggered, because it can lock a wheel within 150 milliseconds, twice as fast as the 300 milliseconds with a conventional set-up.

The Terrain Response system is activated by the touchscreen and it has settings for various off-road conditions. It also has an automatic function that recognizes the driving surface and configures the vehicle with no driver input.

The high sills, short overhangs, and externally mounted rear wheel facilitate the vehicle’s off-road capability. For serious going, such as mud or sand, the driver can adjust cross-axle slip using center and rear slip controls on the central touchscreen. There are three settings that control throttle, gearbox, steering, and traction control, allowing the driver to tailor the vehicle for a particular situation.

A unique feature is a wade setting that enables the drivers to observe the depth of water under the vehicle on the vehicle infotainment screen. The wade setting also softens the throttle response, sets the ventilation system to recirculate cabin air, locks the drive, and adjusts the ride height. The Defender can wade through 35.4 inches of water. Once out of water, the vehicle automatically drags the brakes to clean and dry the discs.

A new option is a factory-fitted satin protective film that is available on Indus Silver, Gondwana Stone, and Pangea Green paint finishes. The wrap gives the body a satin finish and enhances durability because it can be repaired more easily than paint.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR / PHOTOGRAPHER

Tom Strongman has a degree in photojournalism from the University of Missouri and was formerly the director of photography and then the automotive editor of The Kansas City Star. Tom, a member of the Missouri Press Association Photojournalism Hall of Fame, has written about and photographed cars for more than three decades.

INTRODUCING THE NEW LAND ROVER DEFENDER

MSRP FROM $46,100*

The Land Rover Defender story began with the simple thought of creating an exceptionally capable off-road vehicle. Today, the story continues with the New Land Rover Defender. While it builds on the legacy of previous versions, it’s a completely new vehicle. As the toughest and most advanced Land Rover vehicle ever produced, it can confidently take you to some of the most remote places on earth—and back again. Put the New Land Rover Defender to the test at your Land Rover Retailer.

Land Rover Merriam 9400 W. 65th Street, Merriam, KS 913 677 3300

AristocratLandRover.com

Vehicle shown: 2020 Land Rover Defender 110 with optional equipment. *Price shown is Base Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. Excludes destination/handling, tax, title, license, retailer fees, all due at signing, and optional equipment. Retailer price, terms and vehicle availability may vary. See your participating Land Rover Retailer for complete details, visit LANDROVERUSA.COM or call 1-800-FIND-4WD / 1-800-346-3493. © 2020 Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC