The new Defender has finally been launched at the 2019 Frankfurt motor show, definitely the most anticipated car of this year . Featuring an all-new platform, a large number of engine options, and new technology. The car has grown somewhat in size from the previous model and production has now been moved from Solihull to Slovakia.

As previously there will be a 3 door 90 model and a 5 door 110 model of the new Defender with deliveries of the 110 beginning in the final quarter this year and priced at 45K before options. The 90 will start at 40K when it arrives next year.

The new Defender 4x4 switches from body-on-frame construction to an aluminium unibody derived from the platform of the current crop of Range Rover cars, so Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Land Rover Discovery. The Defender has therefore changed from solid axles front and rear to double-wishbone front suspension and Integral Link independent rear suspension. Customers can choose either coil-sprung or air suspension on the 90, with the 110 only being offered with the air suspension.

Even so the Defender’s platform is apparently 95 per cent new compared to existing models and Land Rover claims it’s the strongest, stiffest structure used to-date.

To focus on off-road performance, hardware such as the battery, cooling circuits and spare wheel, previously positioned underneath the car and now fixed to the rear door have all been moved higher up. This has significantly helped shorten the rear overhang but if you study the car you will see the front overhang is almost non existent, all necessary for the credentials of a true off-roader.

In addition the suspension has been significantly bolstered, the Defender’s steel subframes feature sturdier welds, and extra braces, more durable bushings and ball joints for suspension control arms, and the longer and stiffer front control arms. 'Car Magazine'.

The Defender has grown from the previous version: the new 90 and 110 models measure 4583mm and 5018mm long respectively (including the spare wheel on the rear door), which is up 722mm and 440mm on previous models. Inside the interior space is clearly substantially larger.

Permanent all-wheel drive coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission with a two-speed transfer case are standard, plus an optional locking rear diff in addition to the centre diff, which is locked by swiping the central touchscreen.

Air suspension lowers the ride height by 50mm and raise it by up to 75mm, with a further 70mm boost if required. This gives a maximum of 291mm ground clearance in total – for when the body needs lifting to clear larger obstacles. The wading depth matches the 900mm of a Discovery, and this is a substantial 400mm over the previous model.

The off-road technology is in evidence too, including the ClearSight GroundView that projects a picture of the ground normally hidden by the bonnet onto the central touchscreen and the camera attached to the rear of the car gives a rear view that is as if the rear of the car no longer exists. See our forthcoming video of the Range Rover Evoque.

All in all a successful re-interpretation of the previous model. The Defender is rugged with all the off-road credentials necessary to make this car the serious off-roader of choice. Only caveat might be that the price is not cheap and may make it difficult for the farming/ outdoor community to be able to justify the cost but we shall see.

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