Land Rover has upgraded its faithful workhorse Defender, slotting in the new Ford Transit’s 122ps 2.4-litre diesel, fitting an all-new interior and improving both refinement and seating comfort.
The 4×4 has a sixth gear for the first time, improving high-speed refinement, while Land Rover claims it’s also easier to drive in town thanks to reduced clutch and gear change loads.
On the inside, instruments are lifted from the latest Discovery, and the company claims the new fascia is “better integrated, more robust and functionally superior.” The heater is claimed to warm the cabin 40% quicker than before, and the short-wheelbase Defender 90’s rear seats are now forward facing instead of side, as is the case with the third row in the Defender 130, to meet the latest safety laws.
Land Rover has also confirmed that its new 272PS TDV8 diesel will be fitted to the Range Rover Sport by the end of the year, as revealed by Fleet Week last month.
