2020 Land Rover Defender Leaked … by Land Rover

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Hoping to generate some buzz ahead of its reveal, Land Rover released an incomplete, low-resolution side-on image of the upcoming, reborn Defender on Tuesday. The model, which disappeared from European dealers after its aging body was declared a danger to modern pedestrians, will return next year as a 2020 model. Apparently, it will hold on to its beloved boxy shape, as anything less would inspire French-style street protests on United Kingdom carriageways.

Also, unlike the last Defender, this one’s coming to America.

As reported by Automotive News last April, Jaguar Land Rover’s U.S. chief, Joe Eberhardt, uttered, “We’ve said it’s a global vehicle. The United States is on the globe,” in response to questions regarding the model’s U.S. availability. Given that this teaser comes by way of JLR’s American arm, suffice it to say you’ll see them here.

The automaker discontinued the long-running Defender in early 2016, the result of updated European pedestrian crash tests the model didn’t have a hope in hell of passing. Apparently, bricks don’t provide much buffering. Americans last saw new Defenders, offered in two wheelbases, in 1974.

Still, despite a slew of new product from the automaker, including the new Range Rover Velar, the Defender’s link to the first Land Rover model of 1948 ensured an outcry after its death. The company soon started work on a replacement. The new model, besides conforming to crash regulations, will also have to abide by strict emissions regulations. That makes weight a factor. It’s expected that the next-generation model — offered, as before, in two wheelbases — will shed pounds through extensive use of aluminum. JLR’s line of Ingenium engines is standing by to provide power, and designers have surely put some sandpaper to the model’s rough edges in pursuit of a better drag coefficient figure.

As the image provided shows, it seems we’ll learn more about this vehicle immediately after Christmas. December 27th is the date provided, meaning the tweed crowd can keep their holiday celebrations going a little longer.

[Image: Jaguar Land Rover]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • WallMeerkat WallMeerkat on Dec 19, 2018

    "unlike the last Defender, this one’s coming to America." ... "Americans last saw new Defenders, offered in two wheelbases, in 1974." And as others point out, it was sold between 1993-1997 in the USA, when safety legislation forced it off. Editor?

  • El scotto El scotto on Dec 19, 2018

    Th old Defender was a Brit Jeep with an aluminium body. Land cruisers replaced them in places were buying automatic weapons is easy and/or wild animals might eat you. Jeeps won the sales race in North America. In the Auld Country, Defenders were used as trucks (lorries). They are/were slightly more sophisticated than the tractor used by its farmer-owner. They were also only a wee bit faster than a tractor. Hopefully the New Defender will have a great deal less NVH and great deal more speed. Rich suburban women will want these. If all else fails, they can hire Clarkson as a spokesman.

  • ToolGuy Ford is good at drifting all right... 😉
  • Dave Holzman A design award for the Prius?!!! Yes, the Prius is a great looking car, but the visibility is terrible from what I've read, notably Consumer Reports. Bad visibility is a dangerous, and very annoying design flaw.
  • Wjtinfwb I've owned multiple Mustang's, none perfect, all an absolute riot. My '85 GT with a big Holley 4 barrel and factory tube header manifolds was a screaming deal in its day and loved to rev. I replaced it with an '88 5.0 Convertible and added a Supercharger. Speed for days, handling... present. Brakes, ummm. But I couldn't kill it and it embarrassed a lot of much more expensive machinery. A '13 Boss 302 in Gotta Have It Green was a subtle as a sledgehammer, open up the exhaust cut outs and every day was Days of Thunder. I miss them all. They've gotten too expensive and too plush, I think, wish they'd go back to a LX version, ditch all the digital crap, cloth interior and just the Handling package as an add on. Keep it under 40k and give todays kids an alternative to a Civic or WRX.
  • Jpolicke In a communist dictatorship, there isn't much export activity that the government isn't aware of. That being the case, if the PRC wanted to, they could cut the flow of fentanyl down to a trickle. Since that isn't happening, I therefore assume Xi Jinping doesn't want it cut. China needs to feel the consequences for knowingly poisoning other countries' citizens.
  • El scotto Oh, ye nattering nabobs of negativism! Think of countries like restaurants. Our neighbors to the north and south are almost as good and the service is fantastic. They're awfully close to being as good as the US. Oh the Europeans are interesting and quaint but you really only go there a few times a year. Gents, the US is simply the hottest restaurant in town. Have to stand in line to get in? Of course. Can you hand out bribes to get in quicker? Of course. Suppliers and employees? Only the best on a constant basis.Did I mention there is a dress code? We strictly enforce it. Don't like it? Suck it.
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