Land Rover upgrades the Defender for commercial duty

Thursday, 10 September 2020

Meet the Land Rover Defender 110 SE D240

The new Land Rover Defender which went on sale in New Zealand mid-year is already in-line for 2021 performance enhancements and an expanded choice of models.

Announced in the UK today are the new Ingenium in-line six-cylinder diesel engines to supplement the four-cylinder D200 and D240 diesels which have powered new Defender from its launch.

The move to six cylinders for the D200 model leaves power unchanged at 147kW but peak torque rises from 430Nm to 500Nm. A new D250 designation replaces the D240 four-cylinder with new 183kW and 570Nm (from 177kW and 430Nm) output levels.

The Defender has only been in New Zealand for all of five minutes but Land Rover has given it an upgrade all the same.

And there’s also new diesel flagship with the debut of Defender D300 models that develop 220kW and 650Nm of torque. The new diesel has been developed to meet the stringent European emissions regulations.

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The four-wheel drive system has been tweaked along with the addition of new engine options.

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The Defender has also moved into the commercial sector with the Hard Top.

All three engines are assisted by Land Rovers mild hybrid technology which contributes to enhanced fuel economy through an efficient Stop/Start system which cuts the engine at a standstill, as well as recuperating energy normally lost under braking or decelerating. It also improves acceleration to a degree.

Land Rover NZ product manager Paul Ricketts said the four-cylinder diesel launched mid-year in New Zealand is set to continue in both D200 and D240 Defender models.The new six-cylinder will become available in a flagship Defender D300 model which is due to arrive in the New Zealand market from February 2021.There are no plans to introduce the six-cylinder D200 and D250 engines.

There are new tweaks to the four-wheel drive systems, now continually varying axle torque based on sensor data from the vehicle’s surroundings and driver inputs to distribute all torque to one axle or the other as required.

And for the first time, you can buy the Defender as a plug-in hybrid! No word on a Kiwi release date just yet though.

This intelligent torque distribution system optimises the driveline for traction, on-road dynamics and driveline efficiency, resulting in improved fuel economy and reduced CO2 emissions – all without sacrificing any of Defender's off-road capabilities.

In other Defender news applying to upcoming MY21 models, the first plug-in hybrid model has been announced. The new Defender P400e combines a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 220kW output and a 105kW electric motor to become the most powerful and most fuel-efficient model in the Defender range.

The Defender PHEV has a 19.2kWh battery, will have an electric range of 43km and can be driven off-road – including in low-range - as an electric vehicle. Combined cycle fuel consumption is rated at 3.3L/100km and the Defender P400e can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 5.6secs.

The new Defender is also making its first move into the commercial vehicle sector – a traditional Defender segment since the 1950s - with new Hard Top models in both 90 and 110 configurations.

Developed by Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations, Defender Hard Top will be the toughest and most rugged member of the Defender family with a payload of up to 800kg on the 110 Hard Top and a towing capacity of up to 3500kg.

With no second or third-row seats, the Defender 110 Hard Top offers a load area of up to 2059 litres (1355 litres for the 90 Hard Top), while the option of the first-row jump seat means it can take up to three occupants in the front.

Land Rover’s ClearSight Rear View camera technology ensures an uncompromised view out the rear of the vehicle at all times.

Clever storage solutions allowing users to maximise the space on offer include a fixed-height load partition with hooks, lashing points to the load floor, lockable underfloor storage, heavy duty rubber load space mats and brighter load space illumination, as well as an exterior utility panel that’s perfect for individual customer signage.

The Defender Hard Top powertrain line-up includes Land Rover’s range of new in-line six-cylinder Ingenium diesel engines including the D200 on Defender 90, with D250 and D300 power options on the 110 Hard Top.

A range of specification packs are available for 110 Hard Top models, closely reflecting those in the core Defender range with S, SE and HSE each providing a unique combination of ruggedness, comfort and convenience.

A choice of suspension options is also available, with passive coil suspension standard on both 90 and 110 Hard Top models, and advanced Electronic Air Suspension available for 110 Hard Top.

Jaguar Land Rover New Zealand said it is in the early stages of exploring commercial variants of the Defender for the New Zealand market while it expects the MY21 upgrades for Defender passenger models to arrive from early-mid next year.