2020 Defender

ERover82

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2011
3,899
450
Darien Gap
I just googled and found some car and driver specs. Didnt do the Lr4 which looking now has different specs then the LR3. In on my phone now, but Ill double check when I get home

So it looks as though the LR3 and LR4 have different specs.
Im seeing for the LR3 in Offroad mode:
Approach: 37.2
Break over: 27.9
Departure: 29.6
Ground clearance: 9.5
Wading: 27.6
curb weiaght: 5796
And the important one. Wheelbase for the LR3 is 113.6 Its 119 for the Defender. So even though the Defender is taller, its also longer so the break over ends up being the about the same. The lR4 seems to be significantly less. The 90 has the best numbers. But back to my original comment of how is this new Defender so much better than an LR3? I just dont see it. Must be in the Terrain response ?

Thought about this further. Overall, it looks like the 110 will be at least on par with LR3/4, which isn't too bad considering that it's at a disadvantage being longer, and since its intended use will inherently be less recreational-challenge and more cargo-over-rough-roads. Other than that, we've got the tire back where it belongs, 32s on 18s, rubber floors, a lighter platform, more efficient (distance-per-tank), and hopefully several lessons-learned (air-suspension, sill wiring, bushings, etc) and corrected. I wouldn't dismiss the value of those.

The 90 gets more interesting with all the aforementioned benefits, plus better off-road angles all around, and much lighter platform (big LR3/4 weakness). Combined, I'm eager to see how they perform in the real world.
 
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ERover82

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Nov 26, 2011
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Darien Gap

These caught my eye
14 - Defender's electrics gets IP67 electrical rating
The electronics and connections in the new Defender have been designed to meet the IP67 water immersion standards. That means they can be submerged in one metre of fresh water for an hour without intrusion or damage.

15 - It is able to wade through 900mm of water
Like the Discovery the Defender is rated to wade through 900mm of water. Engineers say it could theoretically deal with deeper water, albeit with risk of the car floating, particularly with any side currents. If you end up in deeper water and the car starts floating, engineers say the doors can be cracked open to allow some water to flow into the cabin, in turn temporarily adding weight to help with traction. Obviously there will be water damage to carpets and trims, but engineers say the electrics should be fine.

43 - Muscling up
Land Rover says the new Defender has “the strongest drive shaft and half shafts ever deployed on any of our vehicles”.
 
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mgreenspan

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2005
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Briggs's Back Yard
Tons of content available now, this from a NAS Defender owner.
Interesting perspective. Can’t really argue with his logic. I’ll have to see it in person. The pictures and videos still seem like it’s a CG drawing. It’s very modern and different looking than the old version.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
The clear view system is pretty cool. You start the system and then roll 6 or 8 ft and the front camera image is not a real time display, It's a time delayed version of what you just started to roll over, from the vantage point of being under the car. It's been on the new Evoque for almost a year now.
 

bri

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
6,178
152
US
After going through the build your own configuration I now have a better understanding on why it took so long to develop and bring to market. The amount of options from which to choose is dizzying. Guess they decided to follow Porsche in this regard.

I guarantee they will never deliver all those options.
 

SGaynor

Well-known member
Dec 6, 2006
7,148
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52
Bristol, TN
I like it. We'll have to see how it really performs.

The built in air compressor is interesting.

The one I built was ~$80k. Got to get the kids out of college...
 

ERover82

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2011
3,899
450
Darien Gap
Having done the LR3/4 comparison, let's compare it to the original.

57303

Classic Defender 90
Approach: 47
Break over: 33
Departure: 47
Ground clearance: 9.8
Wading: 20"
Curb weight: 3900 lbs (Approx. depending on engine)

Source: https://topix.landrover.jlrext.com/...F/9771d0dc-f077-4afc-90c0-bced08e63ff5/en_GB?

New Defender 90 (Off-road mode)
Approach: 38
Breakover: 31
Departure: 40
Ground Clearance: 11.5
Wading Depth: 35.4
Curb weight: 4,830

Source: https://www.landroverusa.com/Images/Land-Rover-Defender-Brochure-1L6632010000BUSEN01P_tcm293-716037.pdf


The classic clearly wins in fundamental off-road geometry and weight. Ground clearance is more difficult to compare being that it changes dynamically depending on terrain, and the New D90 is measured at the highest point, and the classic D90 is measured at the lowest. In the simple case of driving over an obstacle on flat ground, the New D90 wins by nearly two inches, but that changes when the axles articulate or the obstacle is placed at difference points. Let's not forget about body ground clearance either. The body of the classic is considerably higher than the axle ground clearance, where the New D90's body is much closer to its quoted ground clearance. Basically, the classic's quoted ground clearance isn't quite as bad as it seems, and the new D90's isn't quite as good as the numbers suggest.

Real world, head to head comparisons will be interesting to watch here. I predict the classic will remain king at highly technical low-speed terrain, depending if lockers have been fitted, while the new Defender will prove superior in snow and mud where the high central ground clearance will allow for less drag, and in higher-speed situations where the modern suspension will provide a higher degree of stability. If the new Defender's electronics are truly IP65 capable, then it should also be more capable in wading scenarios.
 
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Howski

Well-known member
Oct 19, 2009
1,483
209
Alabama
In addition to those stats don’t forget the original was much shorter and narrower. IMO it’s size and nimbleness was just as important as any of those other numbers
 

mgreenspan

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2005
4,723
130
Briggs's Back Yard
Does anyone know if you turn the headlights on does the sad Eeyore white LED partial ring turn off? Similar to how the ring on the Evoque turns off when the blinker is used with the headlights off during the daytime?
 

SCSL

Well-known member
Apr 27, 2005
4,144
152
Read this on another board. Italics mine, and I think they sum why I fear this will fail:%-

You keep saying "purist" like a bad thing. But who is the Defender for if not the purists?
I don't think anyone wants a Defender to carry sheep around on a farm. No one cares that it's more luxurious. It just doesn't carry the spirit of the Defender.
All the cars you mentioned are perfect examples of cars that carry the spirit of their icon.
You'd be hard pressed to find anyone who says that a JL jeep is any less than a YJ Jeep or earlier.
It's modern, it's WAY more luxurious, but it's still a Jeep wrangler.
I don't know who this Defender is for. The purist that like the utilitarian look and spirirt of the Defender won't like it.
The people looking for a true offroader will go with a Rubicon.
People that want a luxury SUV can get a Discovery or any other number of other SUVs.
And people who have no attachment to the Defender to begin with will give zero shits this even exists.

There's just nothing about it that appeals to the core Defender crowd. And there's nothing that appeals about it to anyone else.
It's now just a plain ole kia sole looking car with some better than average offroading abilities. I don't know who that car is for, except people that like the name "Defender" and nothing else.
 

SCSL

Well-known member
Apr 27, 2005
4,144
152
Btw, I sent the official JLR link to one of the directors of my company, who is not a roverhead by any stretch, but really likes the NAS Defender. So he built one on-line. His comments once he got over 80k: “I may as well just buy a Range Rover”. I think this will simply cannibalize the existing line and be a net zero for JLR.