2020 Land Rover Defender is here, finally

MANILA: After all the wait, spy shots, teasers, and whatnot, the 2020 Land Rover Defender has finally made its way out in the flesh. While the boxy silhouette is still there, the 4x4 still does its job pretty well in looking like an SUV from the 21st century. The front end includes a massive muscular bumper with skid plate and a pair of LED headlamps.

The hood is pretty flat and that further enhances the boxy appearance of the 4x4. On the sides, we find running boards, large rims clothed with chunky tyres, and Alpine light windows. At last, the rear end incorporates vertically stacked taillamps, a spare tyre, and a robust bumper with skid plate. As a whole, the 2020 Defender doesn't sport any sensuous curves, and those aren't needed anyway on a rugged crossover, right?

On the inside, the 2020 Land Rover features a four-spoke steering wheel alongside a centre mounted gearshift knob. As a result of the uniquely placed gear knob, there is a central front ‘jump’ seat. The Defender 110 sports a five, six, or 5+2 seating setup. On the other hand, the Defender 90 can fit up to 6 adults. The boot space inside the Defender 110 is 1,075 litres and can be further increased to 2,380 litres by folding down the second row.

Underpinning the 2020 Land Rover Defender is the new lightweight aluminium monocoque construction D7x architecture. The platform supports the installation of fully independent air or coil-sprung suspension and is also capable of housing electrified powertrains. A large touchscreen infotainment system sits flush at the centre of the dashboard.

The various engine options of the 2020 Land Rover Defender include the four-cylinder P300 that makes 300 hp and the six-pot P400 that churns out 400 hp. Both the aforementioned gasoline motors come equipped with Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle technology. On the contrary, the D200 and the D240 are two diesel engines that are on offer. Both are four-cylinder mills pumping out 200 hp and 240 hp of maximum power, respectively. Land Rover will be introducing a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle version sometime next year.

Other mechanical feautres on the 2020 Land Rover Defender comprise of all-wheel drive, twin-speed automatic gearbox, terrain response, centre differential, and optional Active Locking Rear Differential. A water wading capacity of 900 mm ensures that you can take your Defender even on trails with the deepest of the puddles. Alongside the Philippines, Land Rover will offer the 2020 Defender in 127 other markets. We see the all-new 4x4 hitting the Philippine roads by the next year.

Also Read: 1.2 million km of testing by 2020 Land Rover Defender