UPDATE Apr 26, 2017 / The Defender has been one of the longest running off-road vehicles ever made. Thanks to that and its capability, it also became one of the most sought after cars out there. The late ’90s and early 2000s mint examples will fetch more than $90,000 which is quite a bit more than their price when new. Even though the SUV has been discontinued back in 2016, a new model is on its way. Land Rover’s CEO said a while ago that he already drove the test mule for the future 2018 Land Rover Defender. He also said that in comparison to its rivals, the Defender was spectacular.
2018 Land Rover Defender Price and Detail
There are a lot of potential buyers for the successor of the Defender expecting quite a bit from him. One of its traits was the great off-road ability. For its replacement to be successful, it will have to do well in off-road. However, there are some interesting facts about it. For starters, the new Defender will be based on a unibody design. It will actually use the same platform as the new Discovery which is an all aluminum chassis with an all aluminum body on top. While the Discovery is great in off-road, this is also thanks to its highly capable electronic aids. In order for the Defender to be just as good, it is safe to assume it will have to use these aids. Like the Discovery, the Defender might get to use an air-ride system which will definitely increase the cost. In fact, early speculation suggests a starting price of more than $50,000 which is considerably more than the competition.
Why the Price Increase?
It seems that Land Rover is looking to make the Defender rival the likes of the G-Class or the Land Cruiser. In order to do that they will have to basically offer a luxury SUV capable of going pretty much anywhere and it seems that this is where the upcoming Defender is heading. While we still hope for a back to basics off-road machine, this is highly unlikely at this point. We will be able to get a better idea about the finished product later this year or in early 2018 when it is expected to be revealed.
Under the Hood
The 2018 Land Rover Defender is likely going to feature at least two engines. The base model is expected to get a 3-liter V6 diesel with over 250 horsepower. A supercharged 3-liter gas V6 with 340 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque is also a real possibility. A high-performance version sporting a supercharged V8 with north of 500 horsepower is to be expected. Four-wheel drive will be available as standard while an eight-speed automatic is likely going to be the only transmission choice.
May 23, 2016 / Land Rover’s legendary off-roader will finally hit the market completely revamped after more than 30-year-long break. The vehicle will be changed from bumper to bumper but it will keep its recognizable rugged and agricultural appearance. The aging model desperately needed some burnishing to stay competitive. The car-maker unveiled somewhat cartoonist Defender Concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011 but it seems that the neo-Defender will be nothing like the concept. Land Rover’s design guru Garry McGovern confirmed that the 2011 Defender Concept was just the beginning of a long and painstaking journey to redesign the Defender and make it perfect. Let’s check what the carmaker may bring to the table with it’s brand-new Land Rover Defender 2018.
Exterior
Not many details about the vehicle are available but we are quite sure that it will adopt the carmaker’s latest aluminum-intensive unibody as most of its recent models. Just like its predecessor, the 2018 Land Rover Defender will be available in several lengths, with a variety of options for the cargo bay, and as a three- or five-door model. The previous generation of the Defender was known as a versatile model capable of carrying a lot of goods and performing different farm work, but it still was a great vehicle fur cruising city streets. If the carmaker wants to make the neo-Defender as popular as the previous generation, the newbie will have to work perfectly across all the aforementioned areas. The vehicle will keep its boxy design but there is no doubt that it will be more aerodynamically friendly and more practical. The carmaker claims that the Queen Defender will be the most capable off-roader on the market. Unfortunately, that’s all we’ve got at this moment. We sincerely hope that the carmaker will say more about the 2018 Defender soon.
Engine and Construction
Most people think that the outgoing Defender was way too heavy for such a simple model. We do agree that its outdated construction was the biggest drawback but it seems that things will be changed for the better. The carmaker will probably switch to aluminum construction to reduce the overall weight and enable the vehicle to get the best out of its powerful powertrains. The neo-Defender will probably be powered by the same petrol and diesel mills as the Discovery. The power plants are relatively small in capacity but with the help of turbochargers, they can produce great power and save fuel.
Interior
There is no a single photo of the Defender’s interior but the cabin will be modern, comfortable, spacious, and welcoming for sure. The carmaker said that it will have plenty of cutting-edge technology at its disposal for outstanding driving feel. It will probably get the Terrain Response system which helps you to set up the vehicle easily for different road conditions. Expect top-notch materials, great craftsmanship, and the latest safety and infotainment gizmos to be included.
2018 Land Rover Defender Release Date
The 2018 Land Rover Defender should go on sale in 2017 as the 2018 model. It should start at $55,000.
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