Land Rover’s most enduring model is in Singapore in its all-new form, and prices start from S$315k with COE for the First Edition

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SINGAPORE
The all-new Land Rover Defender is here in Singapore, and it’s priced at S$314,999 with COE for the 3.0-litre First Edition model.

The Defender has had its first complete makeover since, well forever. Technically this is the second-generation car, since the classic first-gen car we all know and love has drawn its lineage from the original design of 1948.

What models are going on sale in Singapore?

For Singapore, the first version to go on sale will be the Land Rover 3.0P First Edition MHEV, priced at S$314,999 with COE, and there is a 2.0 model pending homologation expected to be priced around S$280k with COE.

The 3.0 is powered by a 3.0-litre inline six cylinder engine with a conventional turbocharger. The ‘MHEV’ part of the deal is the 48V mild hybrid system, which also allows the presence of an electric supercharger.

That gives a total of 400hp and 550Nm of torque, good for 0-100km/h in 6.1 seconds on to a top speed of 191km/h. fuel consumption is 9.9L/100km and CO2 emissions are 227g/km, with the car rated C2 in VES.

The 2.0-litre model has 300hp and 400Nm of torque, it’ll do 0-100km/h in 7.6 seconds onto an identical 191km/h top speed. Provisional fuel consumption figures are 9.9L/100km.

The car will be available only with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive with an electronically actuated low range transmission for serious off-road work.

Internationally, there is also a 2.0-litre turbodiesel – the latter is not likely to be sold here at all. Further ahead, there could be a high-powered petrol V8 model, and a PHEV model is also in the works.

What seating/body/equipment options do we have?

Globally the new Defender is available in 90 and 110 styles – that is three -door and five-door in accordance with the first-gen tradition, however there is no indication on when the 90 model will be available here, so for now only the 110 five-door is sold.

The new Defender 110 is big. Even without comparing to the old model, by current 4×4/SUV standards it’s slightly longer than the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, since it measures 5,018mm long, is 1,967mm tall, and 2,105mm wide, with a 3,022mm wheelbase.

The standard version is a five-seater, and there is also a 5+1 version that features a fold-away jump seat between the two front seats, a homage to the original car’s front bench seat. A seven-seat version of the Defender with two seats in the third row is available on indent for Singapore.

Boot space for the 110 is a very large 646-litres, 1,075-litres if measured to the roofline (though the local spec says 857-litres), expandable to 2,380-litres with the second row of seats down. For the seven seat model, it’s 231-litres with all seats in play, 464-litres with row three folded, and a maximum of 2,233 litres with all seats folded away.

What about new-fangled tech and other equipment?

The Defender debuts a new infotainment system from Land Rover named ‘Pivi Pro’. It features a 10-inch colour touchscreen, what Land Rover says its advanced voice controls, Apple Car Play and Android Auto, and can connect to two Bluetooth devices at once. It’s matched by a 12.3-inch active driver’s instrument panel.

Other interesting touches include a ‘Clearsight’ digital rearview mirror, 360-degree camera with ‘Clearsight Ground View’ which gives you a good view of the ground in case you’re off-roading – or just parking. There’s also USB ports dotted throughout the cabin, matrix LED headlights, a 400w Meridian hi-fi.

What’s under the boxy skin?

The new car has been reworked from ground up to still look like the classic two-box design, but is now a thoroughly modern SUV.

It trades its original ladder-frame chassis for a full aluminium alloy monocoque that shares similar architecture with the Land Rover Discovery.

This also means that the traditional solid axles of the original Defender have now been replaced by fully independent suspension, with up to 500mm of vertical travel at each wheel.

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It’s been revealed that the new Defender is the single most accessorised car in the Land Rover catalog, and buyers can choose exactly how they want to outfit their cars to go with their lifestyle ambitions.

The three-door and five-door versions of the car retain their ‘90’ and ‘110’ designations, which were the wheelbase measurements of the original car even though they no longer have any correlation on the new model. The 110 five-door for example, now has a wheelbase of 119 inches or 3022m.

To emphasise the car’s off-road capabilities, the design team has left many of the fittings and door bolts on the interior visible. The interior has also been fitted with materials that are highly water resistant and Land Rover claims that despite the rugged looks, the car is built with plenty of comfort for long road trips on tarmac as well as functioning as a perfectly competent off-road machine.

How does it do off-road?

On paper, the Defender naturally has an impressive-looking list of off-road capabilities. Besides the all-wheel drive and high/low range automatic gearbox, there’s an optional locking rear differential, as well as adjustable air suspension.

Numbers for off-road nuts include: 291mm of ground clearance, 38 degree approach, 28 degree breakover and 40 degree depature angles, with a maximum wading depth of 900mm. There’s the latest Terrain Response 2 system which helps you through the vast majority of conditions, and can be configured to your individual setup as well – there’s even a mode for wading through water.

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In reference to the quality of the seats and interior on the new car, Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern noted, “Much as we love the old one, if you drive it for two weeks, you get a bad back. That won’t be the case with this one.”

More details will be confirmed at the digital reveal, which will also feature a selection of unique interviews that will give exclusive insight into the New Defender including how the car is capable of talking to people fluently in more than 20 languages.

Land Rover has also produced a special 30-minute online programme to give viewers an in-depth look into a vehicle.

Watch the broadcast tonight at 21:00 SGT on Friday 7 August on Land Rover Asia Pacific’s YouTube channel.

Also look out for CarBuyer’s full review of the new Land Rover Defender in Singapore after the official launch!

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