We expect to see a completely revamped version of the Defender both inside and out that includes satellite navigation and communication systems, features that the last generation lacked. However officials at Land Rover know they’re walking a fine line when it comes to updating the Defender.
“If we get it wrong we are messing up one of the industry’s biggest icons,” said UK Managing Director Colin Green in a recent interview with Auto Express. “And in that sense it’s a tremendous responsibility.”
The Defender almost never saw the light of day again as Land Rover mulled the idea of ditching the SUV altogether. Land Rover added it could even “abandon that section of the market” for greener pastures. However the Defender was brought back along with a new plan to introduce a car that sits on the same heavy-duty platform as the Discovery 3.
The proposed new Defender by Land Rover would feature an enhanced Terrain Response System similar to the one found on the LR3 and Discovery models. The TRS alters the engine, suspension, and gearbox settings to fit the surface being traveled on and would enable the car to have unseen off-road capabilities. A few four-cylinder engines will also be developed in house and run on either gasoline or diesel.
