Part of Britain’s Landscape, a True Motoring Icon

It was the post-World War 2 era and the location was a mudded beach in Red Wharf Bay in Anglesey, Wales. Two brothers, Maurice and Spencer Wilks, both working in influential positions in the Rover company as chief engineer and managing director were discussing business. Britain was picking up the pieces after the war and the economic situation was not in great shape. War-torn England was facing difficulty in shifting sedan vehicles due to damaged road networks and the economy. The discussion turned out to help their company by introducing a new all-terrain vehicle to boost sales.

Maurice had a surplus army Jeep as his staple for his farm duties. He had the bright idea to begin working on their version of a jeep that would run on all terrains. The motor industry was facing shortages of basic materials under government rations and investing in a basic and sturdy machine made more sense. Maurice doodled a sketch with the help of a stick in the sand that eventually became one of the best-selling 4×4 and sold over 2 million units worldwide.  The rest is history, expeditions, humanitarian efforts, or wars all over the world, Land Rover Defender became the vehicle of choice.

Hard as Nails Exterior

Aluminium bodywork that was originally from the war surplus was used in the exterior body and kept that way for the remaining of its life. The rugged look complete with hinges and heavy-duty door handles remains the same. You can tell by just looking at it that this vehicle means business. Exterior-wise, the engineers stick to the old age mantra that if it isn’t broken then don’t fix it. Its exterior design is so successful that it has become part of the British landscape. The popularity spans from humble farm folk to the highest ranks of royalty. Everything used in the exterior is designed to last in harsh environments and for years of carefree usage.

Gradually Increasing Comfort for Interior

Make no mistake, the Defender is not a performance or luxury vehicle. The most important function of this vehicle is to keep moving no matter what surface or terrain it faces. So, try not to expect no wind noise or engine noise when the vehicle is moving.

The dashboard is designed to be strong and utilitarian instead of luxurious. The overall tone of the interior is focused on being rugged. There are not many luxuries around unless you choose a special edition. There is, however, plenty of space available inside the cabin for leg and headroom. There is enough luggage space at the back as well and later variants come with better noise cancellation.

An Illustrious History of Engines

Range Rover Defender has gone through various excellent engines over the years. it started with a great choice of 2.25-Liter diesel engine. Exact figures were not available however this indirect injection engine worked perfectly for the machine.

A 2.5-Liter petrol engine was later introduced that went on to serve the Defender till 1994. It produced 80bhp at 4000 rpm and 129 Nm of torque at 2000 rpm. Its fuel consumption was in the lower 20s which was considered plenty at that time.

A diesel variant of the same displacement was introduced alongside the petrol variant. This engine produced 65.5 bhp at 4000 rpm and 113 Nm of torque at 1800 rpm. An improved 2.5-Liter turbo diesel engine was later introduced that increased the economy and performance at the same time.

A 3.9-Liter V8 engine with fuel injection was introduced in 1992 and was considered a success. It produced 180 bhp and 231 Nm of torque. Another 4.0-Liter V8 engine was introduced that produced 182 bhp at 4750 and 250 Nm of torque.

A more recent 2.2-Liter TDCi engine was introduced in 2012 that produced 122 bhp at 3500 rpm and 265 Nm of torque at 2000 rpm. A 3.0 Liter TDi diesel engine kept serving the Defender from 1994 to 2006 and produced 111 bhp at 4000 rpm and 195 Nm of torque at 1800 rpm.

Handling and Performance

Let’s focus on the positives first. Here is the deal. Take your Defender to any muddy track, steep incline, or uneven path. We can guarantee you that it would get you through without a whimper. This vehicle is capable of taking you anywhere, whereas other vehicles would think twice before setting foot. This is the real hunting ground for this vehicle and judging it on the tarmac would not be fair. No wonder it has sold over two million Defenders all over the world and is solidifying the superiority of British engineering might.

On higher speeds and on the tarmac though, it is a different ball game. The ride is punishing, jerky, and uncomfortable. The ladder chassis means way too many vibrations and a lack of independent suspension means frantic handling. However, later versions took advantage of new springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars to increase their agility.

Although Land Rovers are not big on the reliability aspect, the simplicity in construction and decades-old design means that many problems have been ironed out with the passage of time. One astonishingly strange fact is that this vehicle is never tested by the Euro NCAP to date. You won’t find any airbags to seatbelt pretensioners as standard in the vehicle. so, there might be a lot of confidence when it comes to driving this vehicle on difficult terrain but there is not much to explore when you explore the safety of the vehicle.

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