Land Rover’s most iconic and capable model could be returning to the North American market in 2018.
While the current Defender is going out of production this year due to its failure to meet European emission standards, Automobile reports Land Rover will introduce a completely reworked model in time for the SUV’s 70th anniversary.
Taking a page out of the current Defender’s playbook, company insiders say the new model will be offered in at least five different body styles, including a short wheelbase two-door model available with a soft top or a metal roof, a four-door long wheelbase model with a metal top and two pickup variants – a short wheelbase two-door and a long-wheelbase four-door.
The ladder frame of the current model will be swapped out in favour of two subframes bolted to a light and rigid unibody chassis, but the Defender will keep its off-road capability with its live-axle setup.
Power will come from Jaguar Land Rover’s series of Ingenium engines. Buyers can choose between a 150- or 180-horsepower 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine, or one of two 2.0-litre turbo-four gasoline engines with either 180 or 240 horsepower.
While a V8 is offered on the current Defender, that will be replaced with a 3.0-litre V6, good for 300 horsepower. Land Rover won’t limit transmission options, either – a six-speed manual or nine-speed automatic will be offered throughout the lineup.
The next-generation Land Rover Defender will be offered as a 2019 model, and it will likely be sold in North America this time around.
