Eight-seater adventurer: Meet the Land Rover Defender 130

MANILA: The Land Rover Defender 130 joins the highly renowned Defender 90 and Defender 110 in the all-conquering family of all-terrain vehicles, with adventurous capabilities for up to eight adults in three rows of full-size seating.

The new 130 body design takes its name from the original Defender family, and draws inspiration from the line's longest model. It allows customers to move up to eight people through any terrain with ease.

The new Defender 130 is characterized by a range of exterior and interior design upgrades and technologies that effectively balance comfort with Defender reliability and capabilities.

In honor of Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebration, Land Rover is gifting Her Majesty and the British Red Cross a specially made new Defender 130 to support operations in the UK. Land Rover engineers will collaborate with representatives from the charity to customize the Defender 130 before it goes into service later this year. The Queen is a known patron of the organization.

Since 1954, Land Rover has been a proud supporter of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the world's largest humanitarian organization. Defender's global testing program included experts from the IFRC's global fleet base in Dubai.

In a statement, Land Rover Vehicle Programs Executive Director Nick Collins said, “New Defender 130 brings a new dimension of capability to our most durable and rugged family of vehicles. Its spacious interior welcomes and transports up to eight people in supreme comfort, enabling unparalleled sophisticated adventuring opportunities for families, with unique design signatures to create a distinct new Defender experience.”

Among the electrified powertrains offered for the new Defender 130 are the P300 and P400 mild-hybrid Ingenium six-cylinder petrols, as well as the D300 Ingenium six-cylinder diesel.

Land Rover's six-cylinder Ingenium powertrains use mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV) technology to provide smooth responses and improved fuel economy. It uses a 48V Belt-integrated Starter Generator (BiSG), which gathers energy normally lost during braking and deceleration and stores it for later use, while also improving the stop-start system's speed and efficiency.

The P300's 3.0-litre Ingenium six-cylinder powertrain produces effortless, smooth performance, reaching zero to 100 kph in eight seconds. The P400 accelerates from zero to 100 kph in 6.6 seconds, with plenty of power and agility.

Meanwhile, the Ingenium D300 diesel engine delivers increased torque, smooth responses, and excellent fuel economy, as well as a zero-to-100kph acceleration of 7.5 seconds.

Land Rover's Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (iAWD) system and an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission are standard on the new Defender 130. The iAWD system optimizes on-road efficiency and all-terrain capability by efficiently and effectively regulating the powertrain and power distribution between the front and rear axles.

Land Rover's aluminum-intensive monocoque D7x architecture is the cornerstone for the Defender's all-terrain prowess. The Defender is three times more rigid than traditional body-on-frame designs, with torsional rigidity of 25kNm/Degree. It also houses the all-independent air suspension, twin-speed transfer box, and iAWD system.

The Electronic Air Suspension, which is operated via a switch panel inside the tailgate, allows the Defender 130 to tow up to 3,000kg, making hitching easier. Towing is also simplified with detachable and multi-height towbar designs.

The Defender 130 has its own color scheme, including a limited-edition Sedona Red option that sets it apart from the rest of the lineup. The optional Extended Bright Pack, which is available in addition to the standard Bright Pack, gives a unique exterior appearance with Ceres Silver Satin finish across all lower body cladding and Noble Chrome front and rear skid plates.

Every passenger in all three rows of seating has access to clever storage and convenience solutions. This guarantees that people in all seats are accommodated, with easy access to the roomy three-abreast third row in a bright and airy cabin.

New color and material options have been added to the interior design, enhancing the all-terrain experience. The latest connected technologies and chassis systems, including a new 11.4-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen and Cabin Air Purification Plus, offer the best assistance and comfort for modern off-road adventures.

The new Defender 130 is offered in HSE, X-Dynamic SE, X-Dynamic HSE, and X variants, in addition to a First Edition. The designers have carefully curated three combinations for the First Edition, each with its own unique color and design theme — Fuji White with Extended Bright Pack with Light Oyster Full Windsor Leather interior and Natural Light Oak Veneer, Sedona Red with Ebony Full Windsor Leather seats and Smoked Oak Veneer, and Carpathian Grey with Vintage Tan Full Windsor Leather and Rough-Cut Walnut Veneer.

The HSE First Edition is also equipped with Matrix LED headlamps, heated second and third-row seating, four-zone climate control, Meridian Surround Sound System, Driver Assist Pack, and Privacy Glass. All Defender 130 variants come standard with 20-inch alloy wheels, with a choice of P400 petrol or D300 diesel Ingenium six-cylinder powertrains.

All Defenders with Keyless Entry, including the Defender 130, now include Approach Unlock and Automated Walkaway Lock, ensuring that adventures start and end smoothly. When the key fob is detected approaching the vehicle, it unlocks automatically within 1.5 meters. When leaving the vehicle and the key fob is more than 1.5 meters away, the new Defender 130 will automatically lock.

Photos from Land Rover

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