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Land Rover is rumored to be working on a new entry level model believed to be codenamed L860. This new model would draw heavily on the new Defender for design inspiration for both the interior and exterior. It would be placed on a cheaper and more modern version of the platform under the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport. Four cylinder engines are expected as well as a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbo that would be connected to a mild-hybrid system. Feature content for the new vehicle would be, as expected, lower than the Defender given its entry level status. As of now, the rumor is that the new model could be named Land Rover 80 and have a starting price around $33,000. On the opposite end of the pay scale, Land Rover is also looking at a Land Rover Defender Sport model that would appear at least 4 years from now. This version could get an all-electric powertrain and much more luxury. It would be the flagship of the Defender lineup. -
Land Rover is rumored to be working on a new entry level model believed to be codenamed L860. This new model would draw heavily on the new Defender for design inspiration for both the interior and exterior. It would be placed on a cheaper and more modern version of the platform under the Range Rover Evoque and Land Rover Discovery Sport. Four cylinder engines are expected as well as a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder turbo that would be connected to a mild-hybrid system. Feature content for the new vehicle would be, as expected, lower than the Defender given its entry level status. As of now, the rumor is that the new model could be named Land Rover 80 and have a starting price around $33,000. On the opposite end of the pay scale, Land Rover is also looking at a Land Rover Defender Sport model that would appear at least 4 years from now. This version could get an all-electric powertrain and much more luxury. It would be the flagship of the Defender lineup. View full article -
Land Rover has transformed their Defender off-road vehicle which went out of production in 2016 into a more luxurious, roomier, and much more high tech. The new generation of Defender comes in 3-door and 5-door versions. The first on offer will be the 110, a 5-door model with 5, 6, or 7, seats that will arrive in early 2020. Later that year will be the 3-door 90 short wheelbase model with 5 or 6 seats and a van version of the 90 will be on offer also. Following in 2021 will be the longer 130 version with a choice of 7 or 8 seats. While not all pricing has been released, the 110 version will start at $50,925 and will be the only version offered in the US for now. Powering the Defender will be a choice of 296 hp 2.0-liter, JLR's new 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder with a mild hybrid system that packs 395 horsepower. Diesel power may come later, won't be available at launch. A plug-in hybrid version will also show up later in the production cycle. JLR says the new Defender will leave you refreshed after a long drive but still pass through water up to 35.4 inches deep and tow 8,200 lbs. The new Defender is built on a heavily modified version of the D7u platform used on the Discovery, but that it is so heavily modified, it gets its own codename (D7x) and own assembly line. It also introduces a new entertainment system called Pivi Pro that is more user friendly and uses fewer inputs to perform common tasks. It is capable of taking over the air software updates with 14 different modules capable of taking updates remotely. View full article
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Land Rover Defender Breaks Cover
Drew Dowdell posted an article in International Auto Show - Germany
Land Rover has transformed their Defender off-road vehicle which went out of production in 2016 into a more luxurious, roomier, and much more high tech. The new generation of Defender comes in 3-door and 5-door versions. The first on offer will be the 110, a 5-door model with 5, 6, or 7, seats that will arrive in early 2020. Later that year will be the 3-door 90 short wheelbase model with 5 or 6 seats and a van version of the 90 will be on offer also. Following in 2021 will be the longer 130 version with a choice of 7 or 8 seats. While not all pricing has been released, the 110 version will start at $50,925 and will be the only version offered in the US for now. Powering the Defender will be a choice of 296 hp 2.0-liter, JLR's new 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder with a mild hybrid system that packs 395 horsepower. Diesel power may come later, won't be available at launch. A plug-in hybrid version will also show up later in the production cycle. JLR says the new Defender will leave you refreshed after a long drive but still pass through water up to 35.4 inches deep and tow 8,200 lbs. The new Defender is built on a heavily modified version of the D7u platform used on the Discovery, but that it is so heavily modified, it gets its own codename (D7x) and own assembly line. It also introduces a new entertainment system called Pivi Pro that is more user friendly and uses fewer inputs to perform common tasks. It is capable of taking over the air software updates with 14 different modules capable of taking updates remotely. -
The Land Rover Defender leaked out via an Instagram post from the set of a 007 movie, spotted without camouflage and clearly back from some mudding around. The Defender was supposed to debut at the Frankfurt International Auto Show next month. The previous Defender stopped production in 2016 after a 67 year run. Emissions and safety regulations eventually forced it out of the markets. The new Defender retains a boxy shape, but is now much more modern in appearence. The headlights have a hooded look in place of the previously circular units. The Defender will initially be offered in a five passenger configuration, but eventually will also get a shorter length model to compete more directly with the Jeep Wrangler. Those wanting a larger version will be happy too as an 8-passenger version is also planned. Power will come from a range of turbo 4-cylinders, turbo 6-cylinder, a plug-in hybrid, and even a 6-cylinder diesel. One thing the Defender will not have is are solid axles, moving instead to a fully independent suspension. The Defender will likely end up in the US market as a 2021 model sometime in late 2020. View full article
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The Land Rover Defender leaked out via an Instagram post from the set of a 007 movie, spotted without camouflage and clearly back from some mudding around. The Defender was supposed to debut at the Frankfurt International Auto Show next month. The previous Defender stopped production in 2016 after a 67 year run. Emissions and safety regulations eventually forced it out of the markets. The new Defender retains a boxy shape, but is now much more modern in appearence. The headlights have a hooded look in place of the previously circular units. The Defender will initially be offered in a five passenger configuration, but eventually will also get a shorter length model to compete more directly with the Jeep Wrangler. Those wanting a larger version will be happy too as an 8-passenger version is also planned. Power will come from a range of turbo 4-cylinders, turbo 6-cylinder, a plug-in hybrid, and even a 6-cylinder diesel. One thing the Defender will not have is are solid axles, moving instead to a fully independent suspension. The Defender will likely end up in the US market as a 2021 model sometime in late 2020. -
It seems every few months we get a rumor coming out of the woodwork about the upcoming Land Rover Defender. That time has arrived once again thanks to Car. They're reporting that Land Rover is planning a family of Defender models like they have done with the Discovery and Range Rover. We know some of them such as a pickup we brought to light in April. But Car says there is an electric variant and what is known as the Defender Sport in the cards. The report doesn't provide many details on the former, but we know that Land Rover has floated this idea back in 2013 with a Defender EV concept. As for the Defender Sport, Car states the model will be take on an "on-road and lifestyle flavour," something akin to the Range Rover Sport. Production is expected to begin in 2020 with the two-door soft and hard tops, and the four-door hard top. Other models like the Sport aren't expected to arrive till later on in the decade. Source: Car View full article -
It seems every few months we get a rumor coming out of the woodwork about the upcoming Land Rover Defender. That time has arrived once again thanks to Car. They're reporting that Land Rover is planning a family of Defender models like they have done with the Discovery and Range Rover. We know some of them such as a pickup we brought to light in April. But Car says there is an electric variant and what is known as the Defender Sport in the cards. The report doesn't provide many details on the former, but we know that Land Rover has floated this idea back in 2013 with a Defender EV concept. As for the Defender Sport, Car states the model will be take on an "on-road and lifestyle flavour," something akin to the Range Rover Sport. Production is expected to begin in 2020 with the two-door soft and hard tops, and the four-door hard top. Other models like the Sport aren't expected to arrive till later on in the decade. Source: Car -
Rumorpile: A New Modular Platform To Debut with Defender
William Maley posted an article in Land Rover
The next-generation Land Rover Defender has had quite the lengthy development with various changes taking place. We have reported that the new Defender will not look like the DC 100 concepts shown earlier this decade. There is another change afoot. According to Autocar, Land Rover has decided to make the new Defender to debut the Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA). Previously, the Defender was expected to use the Premium Lightweight Architecture (PLA) - what underpins the Discovery and a number of Range Rover models. But MLA will be replacing PLA as it will be lighter and offer more flexibility to be used in more models. Using the Defender makes sense as its being redone from the ground up, and may explain the lengthy delay in development. One other interesting tidbit is the Defender will be built in Slovakia, not Great Britain like the previous model. Autocar says the Defender will begin production in 2020. There are some other tidbits concerning other Land Rover and Jaguar models in Autocar's report The next-generation Range Rover Evoque is said to be debuting later this year at the LA Auto Show, with sales beginning in the new year. It will use a heavily reworked version of its current platform that will be known as Premium Transverse Architecture (PTA). This will allow a new plug-in hybrid model that will use a new three-cylinder Ingenium diesel engine - don't expect to see it here. Jaguar's large crossover, known as J-Pace will go into production in 2020. It is understood it will use MLA. Another rumor about the Ingenium straight-six. Reportedly, JLR will use a high-performance version with electric turbochargers to replace their V8 engines. Source: Autocar -
The next-generation Land Rover Defender has had quite the lengthy development with various changes taking place. We have reported that the new Defender will not look like the DC 100 concepts shown earlier this decade. There is another change afoot. According to Autocar, Land Rover has decided to make the new Defender to debut the Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA). Previously, the Defender was expected to use the Premium Lightweight Architecture (PLA) - what underpins the Discovery and a number of Range Rover models. But MLA will be replacing PLA as it will be lighter and offer more flexibility to be used in more models. Using the Defender makes sense as its being redone from the ground up, and may explain the lengthy delay in development. One other interesting tidbit is the Defender will be built in Slovakia, not Great Britain like the previous model. Autocar says the Defender will begin production in 2020. There are some other tidbits concerning other Land Rover and Jaguar models in Autocar's report The next-generation Range Rover Evoque is said to be debuting later this year at the LA Auto Show, with sales beginning in the new year. It will use a heavily reworked version of its current platform that will be known as Premium Transverse Architecture (PTA). This will allow a new plug-in hybrid model that will use a new three-cylinder Ingenium diesel engine - don't expect to see it here. Jaguar's large crossover, known as J-Pace will go into production in 2020. It is understood it will use MLA. Another rumor about the Ingenium straight-six. Reportedly, JLR will use a high-performance version with electric turbochargers to replace their V8 engines. Source: Autocar View full article
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Land Rover is expected to finally show off the new Defender sometime this year as part of the brand's 70th anniversary celebration. But there is already talk about adding more variants, one of those being a pickup. Autocar reports that Land Rover will launch this model in 2020 to go up against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class, Toyota HiLux, and others. Unlike most trucks that offer a range of cab styles, the Defender pickup will only be offered as a regular cab. This is due to the Defender's unibody structure as it is easier to adapt a regular cab layout then a crew cab. Engines are expected to be 2.0L gas and diesel engines from Jaguar Land Rover's Ingenium family. Land Rover is expected to offer a wide range of specifications from a spartan work truck to a very luxurious to take on the X-Class. The model is expected to be sold in Europe, Africa, South America, and the U.S. The last one is interesting as the majority of pickups sold in the U.S. tend to be extended or crew cabs, which could hurt the Defender pickup if it arrives. Source: Autocar View full article
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Land Rover is expected to finally show off the new Defender sometime this year as part of the brand's 70th anniversary celebration. But there is already talk about adding more variants, one of those being a pickup. Autocar reports that Land Rover will launch this model in 2020 to go up against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz X-Class, Toyota HiLux, and others. Unlike most trucks that offer a range of cab styles, the Defender pickup will only be offered as a regular cab. This is due to the Defender's unibody structure as it is easier to adapt a regular cab layout then a crew cab. Engines are expected to be 2.0L gas and diesel engines from Jaguar Land Rover's Ingenium family. Land Rover is expected to offer a wide range of specifications from a spartan work truck to a very luxurious to take on the X-Class. The model is expected to be sold in Europe, Africa, South America, and the U.S. The last one is interesting as the majority of pickups sold in the U.S. tend to be extended or crew cabs, which could hurt the Defender pickup if it arrives. Source: Autocar -
Land Rover will be saying good-bye to the current Defender at the end of January due to stricter crash and emission regulations. But they are the first to admit that reinventing an icon such as the Defender won't be easy. "It is tough. Any replacement for an iconic vehicle is tough because the enthusiasts are certainly very vocal. They have an opinion on how to do it, but it's a huge opportunity at the same time," said Joe Eberhardt, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America. While iconic, the Defender only appealed to a small, hardcore audience. Land Rover needs the next Defender to be a success, even if that means the next model loses some of its hardcore edge, "A lot of people love the idea of [the previous De-fender], but they never buy one. While I'm a designer, and I love designing, I'm also a businessman. We need to build a critical mass in order to sustain ourselves in the long term and reinvest," said Gerry McGovern, Land Rover's design director. The next Defender - expected to arrive in 2018 as a 2019 model year vehicle - will come in five different body styles: two two-door models, long-wheelbase four-door, and pickup variants with two and four doors. The design of the new Defender will not look like the concepts we have seen in past years. "When this vehicle comes out, people will know it's a Defender, it's a modern Defender," said McGovern. "But it will bear no resemblance to those Defender concepts." No word on powertrains, but expect a range of gas and diesel engines. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) -
Land Rover will be saying good-bye to the current Defender at the end of January due to stricter crash and emission regulations. But they are the first to admit that reinventing an icon such as the Defender won't be easy. "It is tough. Any replacement for an iconic vehicle is tough because the enthusiasts are certainly very vocal. They have an opinion on how to do it, but it's a huge opportunity at the same time," said Joe Eberhardt, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America. While iconic, the Defender only appealed to a small, hardcore audience. Land Rover needs the next Defender to be a success, even if that means the next model loses some of its hardcore edge, "A lot of people love the idea of [the previous De-fender], but they never buy one. While I'm a designer, and I love designing, I'm also a businessman. We need to build a critical mass in order to sustain ourselves in the long term and reinvest," said Gerry McGovern, Land Rover's design director. The next Defender - expected to arrive in 2018 as a 2019 model year vehicle - will come in five different body styles: two two-door models, long-wheelbase four-door, and pickup variants with two and four doors. The design of the new Defender will not look like the concepts we have seen in past years. "When this vehicle comes out, people will know it's a Defender, it's a modern Defender," said McGovern. "But it will bear no resemblance to those Defender concepts." No word on powertrains, but expect a range of gas and diesel engines. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article
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The next Land Rover Defender will be coming out in the next few years and it will not look like the DC100 Concept shown a few years back. According to Autocar, the DC100's was considered to be too bland to wear the Defender nameplate. Gerry McGovern, the design director said the new model will look completely different from the concept and has been 'frozen'. The next Defender will reportedly use the platform from the Range Rover, albeit with changes to make it stronger. Source: Autocar William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article
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Next-Generation Land Rover Defender Will Not Look Like DC100 Concept
William Maley posted an article in Land Rover
The next Land Rover Defender will be coming out in the next few years and it will not look like the DC100 Concept shown a few years back. According to Autocar, the DC100's was considered to be too bland to wear the Defender nameplate. Gerry McGovern, the design director said the new model will look completely different from the concept and has been 'frozen'. The next Defender will reportedly use the platform from the Range Rover, albeit with changes to make it stronger. Source: Autocar William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. -
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 8, 2013 Land Rover is reportedly working on a pickup version of the new Defender. What Car? has learned from the brand's design head, Gerry McGovern that the new variation will be a ‘premium’ product to compete with the likes of the Volkswagen Amarok. Sources say the truck will be offered in a crew cab and boast best-in-class off-road capacity thanks in part to a permanent four-wheel drive system. McGovern says the truck could go on sale as early as 2017, a year after the new Defender goes on sale. Source: What Car? William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. -
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com December 8, 2013 Land Rover is reportedly working on a pickup version of the new Defender. What Car? has learned from the brand's design head, Gerry McGovern that the new variation will be a ‘premium’ product to compete with the likes of the Volkswagen Amarok. Sources say the truck will be offered in a crew cab and boast best-in-class off-road capacity thanks in part to a permanent four-wheel drive system. McGovern says the truck could go on sale as early as 2017, a year after the new Defender goes on sale. Source: What Car? William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 11, 2013 After sixty-seven years in production, and more than two million models being produced, the Land Rover Defender will cease to be. According to Automobile Manufacturing News, Land Rover has made the decision to end production of the Defender in December 2015. The decision is due to the current model not being able to meet the new emission standards that are being introduced all-over. "A replacement vehicle will join the Land Rover range, but the Defender in its current format is coming to an end," said a Land Rover spokesman. What that will be and when the replacement will debut are up in the air at the moment. Source: Automobile Manufacturing News, Automotive News Europe (Subscription Required) William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com October 11, 2013 After sixty-seven years in production, and more than two million models being produced, the Land Rover Defender will cease to be. According to Automobile Manufacturing News, Land Rover has made the decision to end production of the Defender in December 2015. The decision is due to the current model not being able to meet the new emission standards that are being introduced all-over. "A replacement vehicle will join the Land Rover range, but the Defender in its current format is coming to an end," said a Land Rover spokesman. What that will be and when the replacement will debut are up in the air at the moment. Source: Automobile Manufacturing News, Automotive News Europe (Subscription Required) William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. -
By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com February 28, 2013 Besides the nine-speed Evoque that Land Rover will be showing at the Geneva Motor Show, Land Rover will also be showing be Electric Defender Research Vehicle. Based on the 110-Series Defender, Land Rover's Advanced Engineering Team dropped the diesel engine that powers the Defender and put in a 70kW electric motor and 330-volt lithium-ion battery pack. Total output stands at 94 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. All of that power goes through a single speed transmission and the Defender's existing four-wheel drive system. Range stands at 50 miles, but can travel up to eight hours without needed a charge when driven slowly off-road. Recharge times are ten hours when using a portable charger and four hours with a quick charger. Land Rover is very adamant that the Electric Defender is still a Defender. The Electric Defender still boasts the same capabilities as the normal Defender. Plus Land Rover put the Electric Defender through some grueling tests such as pulling a 13.4-ton road train up a 13% incline and driving through 31 inches of water. Land Rover says the Electric Defender will not be appearing in its lineup anytime soon. However, Land Rover has built seven Electric Defenders that will be used for testing as the company investigates electric propulsion. Source: Land Rover Album: Land Rover Electric Defender Research Vehicle 9 images 0 comments William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. Press Release is on Page 2 Land Rover Unveils New Electric Defender Research Vehicle Land Rover continues to champion innovation in engineering and develop sustainable automotive solutions Engineered to deliver zero emissions while retaining legendary all-terrain capability Innovative powertrain combines a 70kw electric motor with lithium-ion battery pack Land Rover is continuing to champion British innovation and cutting-edge automotive engineering by unveiling seven new Electric Defender models at the Geneva Motor Show. The research vehicle delivers zero emissions while retaining its tough, go-anywhere capability. "Investing in innovation has always been the lifeblood of our business and our engineering teams are working hard to develop innovative new technology to provide sustainable motoring solutions," said John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director. The standard diesel engine and gearbox have been replaced by a 70kW (94bhp), 330Nm electric motor twinned with a 300-volt, lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 27kWh, giving a range of more than 50 miles. In typical, low speed off-road use it can last for up to eight hours before recharging. The battery can be fully charged by a 7kW fast charger in four hours, or a portable 3kW charger in 10 hours. The electric vehicles (EVs) retain the Defender's legendary four-wheel drive system and differential lock. Because the electric motor delivers maximum torque from the moment it starts, there's no need for gear shifting and the transmission comprises a single speed, 2.7:1 reduction gearbox combined with the existing Defender four-wheel drive system. A modified version of Land Rover's Terrain Response® System has also been incorporated. The vehicles were developed by Land Rover's Advanced Engineering Team following successful trials of the Defender-based electric vehicle, Leopard 1. The vehicles' capability has been tested in extreme and environmentally sensitive conditions, demonstrating capabilities not shared by conventional road-going EVs. Trials included pulling a 12-tonne 'road train' up a 13 percent gradient and wading to a depth of 800mm. In keeping with Land Rover's 'Tread Lightly' philosophy the smooth, low-speed capability of the electric drivetrain makes the Electric Defenders especially well suited to climbing obstacles without damaging the ground unnecessarily. The battery weighs 410kg and is mounted in the front of the Defender in place of the diesel engine. Kerb weight is 100kg more than a basic Defender 110 and ranges from 2055kg to 2162kg depending whether the body style is a pick-up, hard top or station wagon. All the major components in the electric powertrain - including the battery, inverter and motor - are air-cooled rather than liquid cooled, saving a considerable amount of weight and complexity and adding robustness. Regenerative braking has been optimised to such an extent that using Hill Descent Control, the motor can generate 30kW of electricity. Because the battery technology can be charged very quickly at a rate of up to twice its capacity of 54kW without reducing battery life, almost all of the regenerated energy can be recovered and stored. Up to 80 percent of the kinetic energy in the vehicle can be recovered in this way, depending on conditions. "This project is acting as a rolling laboratory for Land Rover to assess electric vehicles, even in the most arduous all-terrain conditions. It gives us a chance to evolve and test some of the technologies that may one day be introduced into future Land Rover models," said Antony Harper, Jaguar Land Rover Head of Research. Although there are no plans for the all-terrain Electric Defender to enter series production, the seven EVs will go into service in specialist applications later this year. View full article
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By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com February 28, 2013 Besides the nine-speed Evoque that Land Rover will be showing at the Geneva Motor Show, Land Rover will also be showing be Electric Defender Research Vehicle. Based on the 110-Series Defender, Land Rover's Advanced Engineering Team dropped the diesel engine that powers the Defender and put in a 70kW electric motor and 330-volt lithium-ion battery pack. Total output stands at 94 horsepower and 243 pound-feet of torque. All of that power goes through a single speed transmission and the Defender's existing four-wheel drive system. Range stands at 50 miles, but can travel up to eight hours without needed a charge when driven slowly off-road. Recharge times are ten hours when using a portable charger and four hours with a quick charger. Land Rover is very adamant that the Electric Defender is still a Defender. The Electric Defender still boasts the same capabilities as the normal Defender. Plus Land Rover put the Electric Defender through some grueling tests such as pulling a 13.4-ton road train up a 13% incline and driving through 31 inches of water. Land Rover says the Electric Defender will not be appearing in its lineup anytime soon. However, Land Rover has built seven Electric Defenders that will be used for testing as the company investigates electric propulsion. Source: Land Rover Album: Land Rover Electric Defender Research Vehicle 9 images 0 comments William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. Press Release is on Page 2 Land Rover Unveils New Electric Defender Research Vehicle Land Rover continues to champion innovation in engineering and develop sustainable automotive solutions Engineered to deliver zero emissions while retaining legendary all-terrain capability Innovative powertrain combines a 70kw electric motor with lithium-ion battery pack Land Rover is continuing to champion British innovation and cutting-edge automotive engineering by unveiling seven new Electric Defender models at the Geneva Motor Show. The research vehicle delivers zero emissions while retaining its tough, go-anywhere capability. "Investing in innovation has always been the lifeblood of our business and our engineering teams are working hard to develop innovative new technology to provide sustainable motoring solutions," said John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director. The standard diesel engine and gearbox have been replaced by a 70kW (94bhp), 330Nm electric motor twinned with a 300-volt, lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 27kWh, giving a range of more than 50 miles. In typical, low speed off-road use it can last for up to eight hours before recharging. The battery can be fully charged by a 7kW fast charger in four hours, or a portable 3kW charger in 10 hours. The electric vehicles (EVs) retain the Defender's legendary four-wheel drive system and differential lock. Because the electric motor delivers maximum torque from the moment it starts, there's no need for gear shifting and the transmission comprises a single speed, 2.7:1 reduction gearbox combined with the existing Defender four-wheel drive system. A modified version of Land Rover's Terrain Response® System has also been incorporated. The vehicles were developed by Land Rover's Advanced Engineering Team following successful trials of the Defender-based electric vehicle, Leopard 1. The vehicles' capability has been tested in extreme and environmentally sensitive conditions, demonstrating capabilities not shared by conventional road-going EVs. Trials included pulling a 12-tonne 'road train' up a 13 percent gradient and wading to a depth of 800mm. In keeping with Land Rover's 'Tread Lightly' philosophy the smooth, low-speed capability of the electric drivetrain makes the Electric Defenders especially well suited to climbing obstacles without damaging the ground unnecessarily. The battery weighs 410kg and is mounted in the front of the Defender in place of the diesel engine. Kerb weight is 100kg more than a basic Defender 110 and ranges from 2055kg to 2162kg depending whether the body style is a pick-up, hard top or station wagon. All the major components in the electric powertrain - including the battery, inverter and motor - are air-cooled rather than liquid cooled, saving a considerable amount of weight and complexity and adding robustness. Regenerative braking has been optimised to such an extent that using Hill Descent Control, the motor can generate 30kW of electricity. Because the battery technology can be charged very quickly at a rate of up to twice its capacity of 54kW without reducing battery life, almost all of the regenerated energy can be recovered and stored. Up to 80 percent of the kinetic energy in the vehicle can be recovered in this way, depending on conditions. "This project is acting as a rolling laboratory for Land Rover to assess electric vehicles, even in the most arduous all-terrain conditions. It gives us a chance to evolve and test some of the technologies that may one day be introduced into future Land Rover models," said Antony Harper, Jaguar Land Rover Head of Research. Although there are no plans for the all-terrain Electric Defender to enter series production, the seven EVs will go into service in specialist applications later this year.
