As the Land Rover Defender marches toward an official reveal, 4×4 fans are getting the best look yet at the all-new SUV, which has pretty big shoes to fill. The fleet of prototypes has just hit the 1.2 million kilometer mark in testing that has taken them to challenging locations all over the world, as the Defender braves everything Mother Nature can throw at it.
To mark this point in its testing cycle, the automaker has revealed an image of a far less camouflaged Defender clad in Tusk Trust graphics, which is a conservancy organization in Kenya that has partnered with Land Rover for 15 years. The prototype will be part of Land Rover's testing program for the new model and will be put to work carrying supplies, towing heavy loads and wading in rivers at the Borana Conservancy in Kenya.
In all, the Defender has passed more than 45,000 individual tests in various climates and terrains, including temperature extremes of 122 degrees Fahrenheit in the desert and -40 degrees in the Arctic. When it comes to elevation, Land Rover has tested the new Defender in locations 10,000 feet above sea level.
"In addition to the extensive simulation and rig testing, we’ve driven new Defender 1.2 million kilometers across all terrains and in extreme climates to ensure that it is the toughest and most capable Land Rover ever made," said Nick Rogers, executive director of global engineering at Land Rover. "The incredible opportunity to put it to the test in the field, supporting operations at the Borana Conservancy in Kenya, with Tusk, will allow our engineers to verify that we are meeting this target as we enter the final phase of our development program."
The minimal camouflage on this prototype gives a better view of the Defender's profile. The best part of this image is that the prototype no longer wears the fake hood, which was used to throw off auto spies but was plainly recognizable as a fake surface feature designed to preserve the secrecy of the final design. As expected, the real hood and front fascia profile is much more Discovery-like. Another bit of surface camo that was ditched was the squared-off roof, which also looked like a false surface feature added as a poke in the eye to auto spies — the real roof is far less boxy and more aerodynamic.
The front fascia, meanwhile, appears to be much more Range Rover-like than previously expected, but it's still hard to tell just how it will appear. Viewed in profile, it shares some elements with recent Range Rover models. Still, it is expected that Land Rover will want to differentiate the Defender from the rest of the lineup, which is already too difficult to distinguish purely from the front. Land Rover will also need to put some distance between the Defender and the Discovery, Range Rover Sport and Velar when it comes to design — the Defender is supposed to be the off-road niche model, after all, if not priced to compete with the Jeep Wrangler.
The all-new Defender will be a unibody vehicle, in contrast to Defenders of decades past, and will offer a much more luxurious interior than current Defender owners are used to. This means the cabin will offer much more of a family look, not too dissimilar from vehicles such as the Discovery, and will offer better on-road manners than previous Defenders, which were not particularly fond of highway driving. Land Rover's intention to make the Defender more luxurious and easier to live with in daily driving that's not in Mongolia has raised some eyebrows, but it's part of making the model a little more errand-friendly, akin to the changes in the redesign of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
Is this a play for deep-pocketed city and suburban dwellers? Very likely, as the outgoing Defender has proven to be a trendy item for wealthy urbanites, despite very spartan accommodations.
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