It’s been over 20 years since new Land Rover Defenders had been bought within the US. The final of the earlier era, which had been round since roughly the Cretaceous Interval, rolled off an English meeting line almost three years in the past. You will discover these, the D90 (quick wheelbase) and D110 (lengthy wheelbase) used within the States, but when it runs correctly and at the least a number of the lights work (fairly positive absolutely functioning electronics was solely an possibility on these fashions), you’re nonetheless most likely north of $100,000.
To drive a Defender meant to shortly come to phrases with what the automobile was designed to do, with a ruthless, single-minded focus: drive over nasty, shitty, terrible terrain, and never have any of the essential bits break. To make that a actuality, few essential bits existed. Issues like windshield wipers, a horn, stereo, local weather management, are all *technically* connected to Defenders constructed proper up till a couple of years in the past, however they’re actually extra suggestive of an idea, reasonably than the factor itself.
Roads weren’t the Defender’s robust level. Consolation not notably necessary to the designers. These items are instruments, there to do a job, one which they excel at with a priceless type of pluck.
However promoting a rig with all of the seemingly complexity of a postwar Jeep for six figures in 2019 and past is a tall order. So, lastly, after months, years actually, of hypothesis, Land Rover is on the verge of releasing the most recent era of Defender, one that appears trendy and probably recognizable as a 21st-century truck by way of upgrades, however nonetheless able to drive into Mordor and again if that’s the place your map factors. Land Rover has made it clear that they aren’t overly softening their flagship automobile simply to enchantment a bit extra to the mall-crawling crowd. These rigs are for individuals who drive into the undrivable components of the world. The brand new ones promise to try this too, but additionally have home windows that seal. And AC, most likely.
So, as a part of what, if true, is a staggering check load—Land Rover claims to be placing the brand new Defender by greater than 45,000 checks to make sure they’ll nonetheless drive by a brick wall, then tow these crushed bricks by a barnyard, the brand new Defender has been aiding a Kenyan elephant conservation group. Referred to as the Tusk Belief, Land Rover has lent their autos to the belief for 15 years.
For this check, the brand new Defender tracked lion prides, towed provides in assist of elephant researchers, drove by rivers, hauled heavy trailers, and drove over regardless of the hell the engineers wished. Inside motive, after all.
Specs haven’t been revealed but. Check drives exterior the biased arms of Land Rover have but to be finished. Or printed anyway.
Lastly, nevertheless, actual, honest-to-god pics have been revealed. The paint scheme nonetheless obscures some particulars, however the bones are obvious.
Photographs courtesy Land Rover.
1 comment
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