Model Update

With 90-inch and 110-inch wheelbases, the latest Defender is the ultimate 4×4 or wagon. The compact 90 has seating for four, while the 110 can be equipped with either five or seven seats. A Defender can accommodate as many as seven adults in comfort, with each person enjoying ample leg and shoulder room. Rubber floor mats are easily washed, and storage compartments make the Land Rover Defender very practical and functional vehicle. A CD unit, and MP3 and iPod compatibility make the outback journey a pleasurable one. The seats are supportive and comfortable.

I could imagine the new Land Rover Defender to be driven in the hands of a hairy chested bush-basher. But again it could equally be driven around town on the school run by Mum. The vehicle is simple to drive, and with a weight of close on two tonnes the big 4×4 sits on the road agreeably. With smaller dimensions, the Land Rover 90 is about 200 kg lighter than the 110 model.

Effortless power from the Defender’s refined 2.4-litre diesel comes from a power output of 90 kW and a class-leading 360 Nm of torque – with 90 percent of peak power on tap from less than 2200rpm to over 4350rpm. The engine is designed to meet modern emissions legislation and features an Anti-Stall device.

This is the legendary Defender. Off road, no one else comes close.

I love taking on the rough stuff head on and having a decent play in the mud. I guess they do say that some kids never grow up! There ain’t no better way to tackle the hard yards in Australia than in a Land Rover Defender. Yes, this is the king of the mud, king of the dust, king of the rough, king of the outback.

What makes the Land Rover Defender such a weapon off road is its ability to find traction where other marques can’t. If you want to take on pebbles the size of dinosaurs’ eggs and slopes steeper than an A-Frame roof, you best be piloting a Defender. To experience slopes that send you hanging forward against your seat belt is fun. Fun I tell ya!

It all starts with the transmission. Land Rover’s meanest, the Defender, is the most off road capable in their quality line-up. Permanent four-wheel drive ensures power is sent to all four wheels continuously, on or off road. The Defender simply remains sure-footed and unstoppable. A robust dual-range transfer box provides its drivers with twelve forward and two reverse gears. ETC is standard on the big 110 station wagon applies a braking force to any wheel that’s accelerating more quickly than the others. Huge power is therefore given to the wheels with the most traction the key to the Defender’s formidable clasp on the terrain ahead. When confronting difficult off-road driving conditions, the centre differential can be locked. This forces engine torque to be split fed equally between each axle. Superior traction over loose ground, mud, ice or snow is the result. If any significant difference between wheel speeds is detected during heavy braking, the four-channel Anti-lock Braking System is designed to automatically reduce the braking force applied to that wheel, helping the driver to retain control. ABS is also standard on the 110 station wagon. Excellent axle articulation, thanks to its coil sprung suspension, also plays its part in keeping the Defender at the front of the pack off road. The solid coil sprung suspension helps the wheels to maintain contact with the ground and follow the contours of rough surfaces.

Every drive off road is enhanced by the Defender’s six-speed transmission. It has been specially developed for heavy-duty applications. The transmission is now lighter, stronger and provides smoother on-road performance too. A lower first gear reduces the crawl speed for tackling big dinosaur eggs, and it combines superbly with the increased engine torque to make towing effortless. Defender’s startlingly quiet 2.4 litre diesel engine produces an exceptional 360 Nm of torque and ninety percent of peak power is on tap from under 2200 rpm to over 4,350rpm. The engine’s unique tuning can withstand the variable quality, high-sulphur fuels to be found in some of the more remote parts of the world.

Incredibly, since its debut in 1948, there are still over seventy five percent of all Defenders made still in use. The cornerstone of the Defender’s design is in its immensely strong chassis which imparts strength, versatility, durability and capability. The ladder frame design is far stronger than any open channel design and more adaptable than some of its competitors’ unibody designs. The lightweight aluminium body is tough, with a no-nonsense simplicity and an adaptable slab-sided profile that’s easier to configure.

Go and play. Grab yourself a Land Rover Defender today and hit the back roads and beyond. A Defender comes in so many versions that youre sure to find the exact Land Rover Defender to suit your needs.

The current model series includes the:

• Land Rover Defender 90
• Land Rover Defender 110

For any more information on the Land Rover Defender, or for that matter any other new car, contact one of our friendly consultants on 1300 303 181. If you’d like some fleet discount pricing (yes even for private buyers!), we can submit vehicle quote requests out to our national network of Land Rover Defender dealers and come back with pricing within 24 hours. Private Fleet – car buying made easy!

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