Land Rover Defender - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

2007Defender

Manufacturer Land Rover

Also called Land Rover Ninety, One Ten & 127(1983-90)

Production 1983-present

Assembly Solihull, West Midlands, England, UnitedKingdomShah Alam, Malaysia (SMA)[1]

Istanbul, Turkey (Otokar)[2]

Aqaba, Jordan (LRAAP; CKD)Thika, Kenya (KVM)[3]

Predecessor Land Rover Series

Class Off-road vehicle

Layout Front engine, four-wheel drive

Land Rover Defender

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Land Rover Defender (initially called theLand Rover Ninety and Land Rover One Ten) isa British four-wheel-drive off-road utility vehicledeveloped from the original Land Rover Serieslaunched in 1948.

1 Name and badge distinctions2 Land Rover Ninety & One Ten

2.1 The 127 and 1302.2 Engine development2.3 Sales turnaround

3 Defender3.1 Td5 engine3.2 2007 model

4 Export and foreign-built versions4.1 Defender in Australia4.2 Defender in the USA4.3 Defender licensees andclones

5 Military Defenders6 Special editions7 Replacement8 Notes9 References10 External links

The model was introduced in 1983 as the Land Rover Ninety and the Land Rover One Ten, the numbersrepresenting the wheelbase in inches. The number was spelt out in full in advertising and in handbooks andmanuals, and the vehicles also carried badges above the radiator grille which read "Land Rover 90" or "LandRover 110", with the number rendered numerically. The Ninety and One Ten replaced the earlier LandRover Series, and at the time of launch, the only other Land Rover model in production was the RangeRover.

In 1989, a third model was brought out by Land Rover to be produced in parallel with the other two: theLand Rover Discovery. To avoid possible confusion, from 1991 the Ninety and the One Ten were renamedthe Defender 90 and Defender 110. These carried front badges that say "Defender", with a badge on the rearof the vehicle saying "Defender 90" or "Defender 110". The current model, from 2007, still has the spaceabove the radiator for the badge, but this is simply blank, and they have "Land Rover" spelt out across theleading edge of the bonnet in raised individual letters. At the rear is a new '"Defender" badge with anunderlining "swoosh". On these current models there are no badges defining the wheelbase model of thevehicle.

Land Rover Defender - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Land_Rover_Defender&print...

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Production 1983–1990

Body style 3-door station wagon (Ninety)5-door station wagon (One Ten)2-door pickup (Ninety/One Ten)3-door van (Ninety/One Ten)2-door High Capacity Pickup (One Ten)

Engine 2.3 l 75 hp (56 kW) I4 petrol (1983–1985)2.3 l 62 hp (46 kW) I4 diesel (1983)2.5 l 68 hp (51 kW) I4 diesel (1984–1993)2.5 L 83 hp (62 kW) I4 petrol (1985–1993)2.5 L 85 hp (63 kW) I4 Turbodiesel(1986–1990)3.5 l 113 hp (84 kW) V8 (1983–1986)3.5 l 134 hp (100 kW) V8 (1986–1993)

Transmission LT95 4-speed manual (One Ten early V8engines only)LT77 5-speed manualLT85 5-speed manual (Ninety and One TenV8)

Ninety, One Ten & 127

The 127-inch (3,226 mm) wheelbase Land Rover 127 available from 1985 was always marketed with thename rendered numerically. Following the adoption of the Defender name, it became the Defender 130,although the wheelbase remained unchanged.

North American Specification (NAS) Defenders sold between 1993 and 1997 said only "Land Rover" withno "90" or "110" numeric designation.

Production of the model now known as theDefender began in 1983 as the Land Rover OneTen, a name which reflected the 110-inch(2,800 mm) length of the wheelbase. The LandRover Ninety, with 93-inch (2,362 mm) wheelbase,and Land Rover 127, with 127-inch (3,226 mm)wheelbase, soon followed.[4]

Outwardly, there is little to distinguish thepost-1983 vehicles from the Series III Land Rover.A full-length bonnet, revised grille, plus the fittingof wheel arch extensions to cover wider-track axlesare the most noticeable changes. While the engineand other body panels carried over from the SeriesIII, mechanically the Ninety and One Ten weremodernized, including:

Coil springs, offering a more comfortableride and improved axle articulationA permanent four-wheel-drive systemborrowed from the Range Rover,featuring a two-speed transfer gearboxwith a lockable centre differentialA modernised interiorA taller one-piece windscreenA new series of progressively morepowerful and more modern engines

The One Ten was launched in 1983, and the Ninetyfollowed in 1984. From 1984, wind-up windowswere fitted (Series models and very early One Tenshad sliding panels), and a 2.5-litre (153 cu in), 68horsepower (51 kW) diesel engine was introduced.This was based on the earlier 2.3-litre (140 cu in)engine, but had a more modern fuel-injectionsystem as well as increased capacity. A lowcompression version of the 3.5 litres (210 cu in) V8Range Rover engine transformed performance. Itwas initially available in the One Ten with a4-speed transmission with integral transfer case,then later in conjunction with a high strength'Santana' 5-speed transmission.[5]

This period saw Land Rover market the utility


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Wheelbase 92.9 in (2,360 mm) (Ninety)110 in (2,794 mm) (One Ten)127 in (3,226 mm) (127)

Length 160.5 in (4,077 mm) (Ninety)181.1 in (4,600 mm) (One Ten)

Width 70.5 in (1,791 mm)

Height 80.2 in (2,037 mm) (Ninety)84 in (2,134 mm) (One Ten)

Related Land Rover WolfSantana PS-10

Land Rover as a private recreational vehicle.Whilst the basic pick-up, Station Wagon and vanversions were still working vehicles, the CountyStation Wagons were sold as multi-purpose familyvehicles, featuring improved interior trim and morecomfortable seats. This change was reflected inLand Rover starting what had long been commonpractice in the car industry - detail changes andimprovements to the County model from year toyear in order to attract new buyers and toencourage existing owners to trade in for a newvehicle. These changes included different exteriorstyling graphics and colour options, and aintroduction of new options, such as radio/cassetteplayers, styled wheel options, headlamp wash/wipesystems, as well as accessories such as surfboard carriers and bike racks. The switch from leaf spring to coilspring suspension added to the new models' success. It offered improved off-road ability and load capacityfor traditional commercial users, whilst the improved handling and ride comfort.

The 127 and 130

From 1983 Land Rover introduced a third wheelbase to its utility line-up, a 127-inch (3,226 mm) twin-axlevehicle designed to accommodate larger, heavier loads than the One Ten. Called the Land Rover 127, it wasdesigned specifically with use by utility and electrical companies in mind, as well as military usage.[4] In itsstandard form it is a four-door six-seater consisting of the front half of a One Ten Station Wagon, and therear of a One Ten High-Capacity Pick Up (HCPU). The logic was that this allowed a workcrew and theirequipment to be carried in one vehicle at the same time. The 127 could carry up to a 1.4 tonnes (1.4 longtons; 1.5 short tons) payload, compared to the 1.03 tonnes (1.01 long tons; 1.14 short tons) payload of theOne Ten and the 0.6 tonnes (0.59 long ton; 0.66 short ton) of the Ninety.

127s were built on a special production line, and all started life as One Ten Station Wagon chassis (the modelwas initially marketed as the One Ten Crew Cab, before the more logical 127 name was adopted). Thesewere then cut in two and the 17 inches (432 mm) of extra chassis length welded on before the two originalhalves were reunited. 127s did not receive their own dedicated badging like the other two models, insteadthey used the same metal grille badges as used on the Series III 109 V8 models, that simply said Land-Rover.

Although the standard body-style was popular, the 127 was a popular basis for conversion to specialist uses,such as mobile workshops, ambulances, fire engines or even flatbed transports. In South Africa, the LandRover assembly plant there offered a 127 Station Wagon with seating for 15. Land Rover also offered the127 as a bare chassis, with just front bodywork and bulkhead, for easy conversion.

Initially held back by the low power of the Land Rover engines (other than the thirsty petrol V8 engine), the127 benefited from the improvements to the line-up, and by 1990 was only available with the two highestpower engines, the 134 hp (100 kW) 3.5-litre V8 petrol, and the 85 hp (63 kW) 2.5-litre Diesel Turbo.

Engine development

The original One Ten of 1983 was available with the same engineline-up as the Series III vehicles it replaced, namely 2.25-litre(137 cu in) petrol and diesel engines, and a 3.5-litre (210 cu in) V8petrol unit, although a small number of 3.2-litre (200 cu in) V8s wereproduced. In 1981 the 2.25 l engines were upgraded from 3- to5-crankshaft bearings in preparation for the planned increases in


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Defender 130CC / Project Rhino

Diesel Turbo engine

The amphibious Ninety built in 1989for the Cowes Week sponsorshipevents. The base vehicle is a standardDiesel Turbo Soft Top.

capacity and power.

The 2.5-litre version of the diesel engine, displacing 2,495 cubiccentimetres (152.3 cu in) and producing 68 hp (51 kW), was introduced in both the One Ten and the newlyarrived Ninety. This was a long-stroke version of the venerable 2.25 l unit, fitted with updated fuel injectionequipment and a revised cylinder head for quieter, smoother and more efficient running. A timing belt alsoreplaced the older engine's chain.

In 1985 the petrol units were upgraded. An enlarged 4-cylinder engine was introduced. This 83 hp (62 kW)engine shared the same block and cooling system (as well as other ancillary components) as the diesel unit.Unlike the diesel engine, this new 2.5-litre petrol engine retained the chain-driven camshaft of its 2.25-litrepredecessor. At the same time, the 114 hp (85 kW) V8 was also made available in the Ninety- the first time aproduction short-wheelbase Land Rover had been given V8 power. The V8 on both models was now matedto an all-new 5-speed manual gearbox.

1986 saw an improvements in engines to match the by moreadvanced offerings by Japanese competitors. The "Diesel Turbo"engine was introduced, a lightly turbocharged version of the existing2.5-litre diesel, with several changes to suit the higher power output,including a re-designed crankshaft, teflon-coated pistons and nimonicsteel exhaust valves to cope with the higher internal temperatures.[4]

Similarly, an 8-blade cooling fan was fitted, together with an oilcooler. The 2.5 diesel, 2.5 petrol and Diesel Turbo engines all sharedthe same block castings and other components such as valvegear andcooling system parts, allowing them to be built on the sameproduction line. The Diesel Turbo produced 85 hp (63 kW), a 13%increase over the naturally aspirated unit, and a 31.5% increase intorque to 150 lb·ft (203 N·m) at 1800 rpm. Externally, turbodiesel vehicles differed from other models onlyby having an air intake grille in the left-hand wing to supply cool air to the turbo. The engine was adopted asthe standard engine for UK and European markets. Early turbodiesel engines gained a reputation for poorreliability, with major failures to the bottom-end and cracked pistons. A revised block and improved big endbearings were introduced in 1988, and a re-designed breather system in 1989. These largely solved theengine's problems, but it remains (like many early turbodiesels) prone to failure if maintenance is neglected.

At the same time that the Diesel Turbo was introduced, the V8 engine was upgraded. Power was increased to134 hp (100 kW), and SU carburettors replaced the Zenith models used on earlier V8s.

Sales turnaround

The new vehicles with their more modern engines, transmissions, andinteriors reversed the huge decline in sales that took place in the1980s (a 21% fall in a single year, 1980–1981). This growth wasmainly in the domestic UK market and Europe. African, Australianand Middle-Eastern sales failed to recover significantly. Thecompany itself adopted more modern practices, such as usingmarketing campaigns to attract new buyers who would not previouslyhave been expected to buy a Land Rover. The operation wasstreamlined, with most of the satellite factories in the West Midlandsthat built parts for the Land Rover being closed and productionbrought into the Solihull factory, which was expanded.

To maximise sales in Europe, Land Rover set up the Special Vehiclesdivision, which handled special low-number conversions andadaptations to the vehicles. The bulk of the division's work was the construction of stretched-wheelbase


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Production 1990-present

Body style 3-door station wagon (Ninety)5-door station wagon (One-Ten)2-door Single Cab pickup (Ninety)4-door Double Cab pickup (One-Thirty)2-door Hardtop (Ninety,One-Ten,One-Thirty)

Engine 2.5 L 107 hp (80 kW) I4 turbo diesel(1990-1994)2.5 L 111 hp (83 kW) I4 turbo diesel(1994-1998)3.9L 182 hp (136 kW) V8 petrol2.5 L 122 hp (91 kW) I5 turbo diesel2.4 L 122 hp (91 kW) I4 turbo diesel

Transmission LT77 5-speed manualR380 5-speed manualZF4-HP22 4-speed automaticGFT MT-82 6-speed manual

Wheelbase 92.9 in (2,360 mm) (1990s 90)93 in (2,362 mm) (2000s 90)110 in (2,794 mm) (110)127 in (3,226 mm) (130)

Length144 in (3,658 mm) (90 pickup)153 in (3,886 mm) (2000s 90)172 in (4,369 mm) (110 Pickup)182.3 in (4,630 mm) (2000s 110)183 in (4,648 mm) (110 Hardtop)

Land Rover Defender

mobile workshops and crew carriers for British and European utility companies, often including6-wheel-drive conversions, but more unusual projects were undertaken, such as the construction of anamphibious Land Rover Ninety used by the company as part of its sponsorship of Cowes Week from 1987 to1990. The Special Projects division also handled specialised military contracts, such as the building of a fleetof 127-inch (3,226 mm) V8-powered Rapier missile launchers for the British Army. The Rapier systemactually consisted of three Land Rovers: a 127 which carried the launching and aiming equipment, and two110s which carried the crew and additional equipment.

The biggest change to the Land Rover came in late1990, when it became the Land Rover Defender,instead of the Land Rover Ninety or One Ten. Thiswas because in 1989 the company had introducedthe Discovery model, requiring the original LandRover to acquire a name.[4] The Discovery alsohad a new turbodiesel engine. This was also looselybased on the existing 2.5-litre turbo unit, and wasbuilt on the same production line, but had a modernalloy cylinder head, improved turbocharging,intercooling and direct injection. It retained theblock, crankshaft, main bearings, cambelt system,and other ancillaries as the Diesel Turbo. Thebreather system included an oil separator filter toremove oil from the air in the system, thus finallysolving the Diesel Turbo's main weakness ofre-breathing its own sump oil. The 200Tdi as thenew engine was called produced 111 hp (83 kW)and 195 lb·ft (264 N·m) of torque, which wasnearly a 25% improvement on the engine itreplaced (although as installed in the Defender theengine was de-tuned slightly from its originalDiscovery 111 hp (83 kW) specification due tochanges associated with the exhaust).[4]

This engine finally allowed the Defender to cruisecomfortably at high speeds, as well as tow heavyloads speedily on hills while still being economical.In theory it only replaced the older Diesel Turboengine in the range, with the other 4-cylinderengines (and the V8 petrol engine) still beingavailable. However, the Tdi's combination ofperformance and economy meant that it took thevast majority of sales. Exceptions were the BritishArmy and some commercial operators, whocontinued to buy vehicles with the 2.5-litrenaturally aspirated diesel engine (in the Army'scase, this was because the Tdi was unable to befitted with a 24 volt generator). Small numbers ofV8-engined Defenders were sold to users incountries with low fuel costs or who required asmuch power as possible (such as in Defenders used


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174.7 in (4,437 mm)157.1 in (3,990 mm) (1997-2000s 90)160.5 in (4,077 mm) (1990-94 90)181.1 in (4,600 mm) (1990s 110)

(130 Double Cab)204 in (5,182 mm) (130)

Width 70.5 in (1,791 mm) (1990s)70 in (1,778 mm) (2000s 90)

Height 80 in (2,032 mm) (2000s 90)80.2 in (2,037 mm) (1990s 90)90.0 in (2,286 mm) (110)

Related Land Rover WolfSantana PS-10Iveco Massif

The South African DefenderBMW-engined 2.8i (1997-2000)

as fire engines or ambulances).

Along with the 200Tdi engine, the 127's name waschanged to the Land Rover Defender 130. Thewheelbase remained the same; the new figure wassimply a tidying up exercise. More importantly,130s were no longer built from "cut-and-shut"110s, but had dedicated chassis built from scratch.

1994 saw another development of the Tdi engine,the 300Tdi. Although the 200Tdi had been a bigstep forward, it had been essentially a reworking ofthe old turbocharged diesel to accept a directinjection system. In contrast the 300Tdi wasvirtually new, despite the same capacity, and boththe Defender and the Discovery had engines in thesame state of tune, 111 bhp (83 kW), 195 ft·lbf(264 N·m).[4]

Throughout the 1990s the vehicle attempted to climb more and more upmarket, while remaining true to itsworking roots. This trend was epitomised by limited-edition vehicles, such as the SV90 in 1992 with roll-overprotection cage, alloy wheels and metallic paint and the 50th Anniversary 90 in 1998 equipped withautomatic transmission, air conditioning and Range Rover 4.0-litre V8 engine.

A new variant was the Defender 110 Double Cab, featuring a Station Wagon style seating area, with an openpick up back. Although prototypes had been built in the Series days, it was not until the late 1990s that thisvehicle finally reached production.

Land Rover South Africa offered a unique Defender during the period the group was owned by BMW.Between 1997 and 2000, the Defender 90 and 110 were offered with a BMW petrol engine alongside thenormal Tdi engine. The engine was the BMW M52 2800 cc, straight-six, 24-valve engine as found in theBMW 328i, 528i, 728i and the Z3. Power and torque output for this engine was 142 kW (190 hp) @ 5500rpm and 280 N·m (207 lb·ft) @ 3500 rpm. This option was offered due to a demand for a petrol-drivenalternative to the diesel engine after production of the V8 Defender had ended. The vehicles were built atRosslyn outside Pretoria. Total production for the 2.8i was 632 Defender 90s and 410 Defender 110s. Earlymodels were not speed-restricted, but later models were limited to 160 km/h.

Td5 engine

In 1998 the Defender was fitted with an all-new 2.5-litre,five-cylinder in-line turbodiesel engine, badged the Td5. The Tdicould not meet upcoming Euro III emissions regulations so the Td5replaced the Tdi as the only available power unit. The engine usedelectronic control systems and produced 122 hp (91 kW) @ 4850rpm, 11 hp (8 kW) more than the Tdi, with improved refinement.Traditionalists were critical of the electronic systems deployedthroughout the vehicle, but concerns that these would fail when usedin extreme conditions proved unfounded.[4]

2007 model

From Spring 2007 a series of changes were made to the Defender, most of which were implemented to meetemissions and safety legislation. The biggest change was to the drivetrain. The Td5 engine was replaced by


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an engine from Ford's DuraTorq line (AKA the puma engine), built in their factory in Dagenham, making theTd5 the last Land Rover engine to be built in-house at Solihull. The engine chosen was from the ZSD family,being a version of the 2.4-litre four-cylinder unit also used in the highly successful Ford Transit. The engine'slubrication and sealing system has been adapted for use in wet, dusty conditions and to maintain lubricationat extreme angles in off-road use. The power level remains the same at 122 hp (91 kW), but with a lowerpower peak speed for towing and better acceleration. Torque output rose from 221 lb·ft (300 N·m) to265 lb·ft (359 N·m) due to the fitting of a variable-geometry turbocharger. This produces a wider spread oftorque than the Td5, from 1500 rpm to 2000 rpm. The engine is mated to a new 6-speed gearbox. 1st gear islower than the previous gearbox for better low-speed control, whilst the higher 6th gear is intended to reducenoise and fuel consumption at high speeds.

The other major changes were to the interior. The dashboard layout of the original One Ten from 1983(which was in turn very similar to that used on the Series III from 1971) was replaced with a full-width fasciaand different instrumentation. Instruments came from the Discovery 3, and some of the centre panels comefrom the Ford Transit. Some steering column switchgear was carried over from the previous interior. A newheater/ventilation system improved de-misting and heater performance.

Other interior changes were to the seating layout. Legislation from the European Union outlaws the inward-facing seats used in the rear of previous Land Rover Station Wagons. The 2007 Defender replaced the 4inward-facing seats with two forward-facing seats. This makes the Defender 90 Station Wagon a four-seatervehicle (reduced from six or seven), and the Defender 110 Station Wagon a seven-seater (reduced fromnine). This brought the Defender in line with its competitors which have generally used this layout for manyyears. A new bodystyle was introduced on the 110 Station Wagon chassis- the 'Utility'. This was a 5-doorStation Wagon body but with the rearmost seats removed and the rear side panels left without windows,producing a 5-seater vehicle with a secure, weatherproof load space.

The only external changes were detail changes. The bonnet was reshaped with a bulge to allow the newengine to fit in the engine bay whilst meeting pedestrian safety rules. The new dashboard and ventilationsystem necessitated the removal of the distinctive air vent flaps underneath the windscreen which had been afeature of all previous Land Rover utility models. Whilst the flaps have been deleted, the bulkhead pressingremains the same, so the outlines of where the flaps would be are still present.

The "XS" Station Wagon was introduced in 2002 as a top-specification level and the "County" packagecould be applied to every model in the line-up. XS models come with many "luxury" features, such as heatedwindscreen, heated seats, air conditioning, ABS and leather seats.

At the other extreme, basic models are available for commercial users, such as emergency services. Themodels are sold in over 140 countries. A range of special conversions are available that include hydraulicplatforms, fire engines, mobile workshops, ambulances, and breakdown recovery trucks. The 130 remainsavailable with the 6-seater HCPU bodystyle as standard.

Defender in Australia

In the 1980s the Australian Army ordered Defenders made to their own specification, called the Land RoverPerentie, some of which were 6x6 drive. The Perentie has proven to be highly vulnerable to land mines, andthe Army's new specification calls for optional armour. Thus, the Perenties are to be replaced with MercedesG-Wagons. Whilst the Defender has been in use in the Australian military for many years, as a consumerproduct it has lagged far behind 4x4 work vehicle offerings from Toyota and Nissan in popularity. Mid 2009Land Rover expanded the model range to include 110 and 130 Cab-Chassis, Panel Van and High CapacityPick-up versions and late in the year announced the re-introduction of the 90 station wagon model for salefrom early 2010.


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1993 NAS Defender 110

NAS Defender 90 soft-top

Defender 110 patrol vehicles 'Wolf'

Defender in the USA

In 1993 Land Rover launched the Defender in the North American(i.e. the United States and Canada) market. Although the RangeRover had been sold there since 1987, this was the first time utilityLand Rovers had been sold since 1974. To comply with the strictUnited States Department of Transportation regulations, ranging fromcrash safety to lighting, as well as the very different requirements ofAmerican buyers, the North American Specification (NAS)Defenders were extensively modified. The initial export batch was525 Defender 110 County Station Wagons. 500 to the United Statesand 25 to Canada. They were fitted with the 3.9-litre V8 petrolengine and 5-speed manual transmission. All the vehicles were white(except one specifically painted black for Ralph Lauren). They sported full external roll-cages and largerside-indicator and tail-lights. All were equipped with the factory-fitted air conditioning system.

For the 1994 and 1995 model year Land Rover offered the Defender90, fitted with a 3.9-litre V8 engine and a manual transmission whichwas clearly intended to compete with the Jeep Wrangler. Initially, theDefender 90 was only available as a soft-top, but later version wasoffered with a unique, removable, fibre-glass roof panel or regularStation Wagon hard-top.

In the final year of US production the engine was improved,designated 4.0 and mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission. In1998 regulations changed to require the fitting of airbags for bothfront seat passengers in all vehicles, as well as side door impactrequirements. The Defender could not be fitted with these withoutmajor modifications, which given the small numbers of NAS vehicles sold in relation to Land Rover's globalsales, were not economically viable. Land Rover retired its utility vehicles at the end of 1997 to focus on itsmore upmarket Discovery and Range Rover models, as well as the newly launched Freelander.

Defender licensees and clones

Defenders, derivatives and clones have been built by a number of manufacturers including Santana Motorsin Spain (licence expired), Morattab in Iran (using parts and molds bought from Santana), Otokar in Turkey(in the 1980s under licence), and Karmann in Brazil (for three years in the 2000s under licence).[6]

Assembly also occurs in Pakistan, Malaysia and South Africa.

Land Rover Defender vehicles have been used by many of theworld's military forces, including the US in some limited capacity,following experience with the vehicle during the first Gulf War,where US forces found the British Army's vehicles to be morecapable and better suited to operation in urban areas and forair-lifting than the Humvee. The British Army has used Land Roverssince the 1950s, as have many countries in the Commonwealth ofNations. The British Army replaced its Series III fleet with One Tensin 1985, with a smaller fleet of Nineties following in 1986. Both usedthe 2.5-litre naturally aspirated diesel engine. These older vehiclesare reaching the end of their service lives, with many being sold onto


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Sussex Police Land Rover

the civilian market from the late 1990s.

In 1994 Land Rover created the Defender XD (XD= eXtra Duty) to replace and complement these vehicles.Powered by 300Tdi engines, the XD has a much stronger chassis, with fibre webbing around the weldedjoints in the chassis and around stress points to massively increase load capacity. The XD was available bothin Defender 90 and 110 forms and known to the British Army as Land Rover Wolves. Usually 110-inch(2,794 mm) Soft or Hard Tops, they are used for patrol, communications and supply duties. 90XDs are lesscommon, but are generally ordered as Soft Top or Hard Top vehicles for light liaison and communications.Short-wheelbase vehicles lack the load capacity needed by modern armies, and the increased power ofheavy-lift helicopters has made the larger 110s easily air-transportable- a historic advantage of the smaller,lighter 90.

Land Rover offered its "Core" military Defenders with the 300Tdi engine rather than the more powerful butmore complicated Td5 engine offered in civilian vehicles. Before the 300Tdi engine was introduced, militaryLand Rovers were offered with 2.5-litre petrol and diesel engines, as well as the 3.5-litre V8 petrol. Althoughtrials with the Td5 engine proved it to be reliable in battlefield conditions, it was decided that servicing andrepairing its electronic control systems should they fail was too complicated and reliant on having diagnosticcomputers available. Land Rover were also unable to guarantee they could make the Td5 resistant toelectro-magnetic interference. The Australian Army also tested the Td5 and found it to be reliable, but wasconcerned that the extra performance and speed that the engine gave would result in more accidents andvehicle damage on rough tracks when driven by inexperienced drivers, so opted for the older engine as well.

The British police have used Land Rovers (including the Defender) in their service for many years, they aresupplied with the entire range from Land Rover itself.

In 2004 a fleet of 12 Long wheelbase 110 Td5 Land Rovers wereproduced for the central German Government, varying between 110Vans, 110 Hi-capacity pick-ups and 110 Station wagons. The GermanGovernment did not renew the supply contract after 2006 insteadturning to Mercedes for their logistics fleet.

Vehicles produced for the German Government order were producedin metallic grey with white roofs. The electrical installation on thesevehicles was a special order and kept "luxury" fittings and fixtures toa bare minimum. Four FFR equipped vehicles were produced tofacilitate the VHF radios in service at that time with the GermanGovernment and Police authorities. Following the change-over to theMercedes contract, the German Central Government sold their Td5 fleet.

With 300Tdi production stopping in 2006, Land Rover set up production of a military version of the4-cylinder Ford Duratorq engine that is also used as a replacement for the Td5 in civilian vehicles.

The British Army's Land Rovers have been the subject of criticism following recent operations in Iraq andAfghanistan. The majority of British Service Land Rovers carry no armour-plating and the compositearmoured SNATCH Land Rover (originally designed to withstand small arms fire and hand-launchedprojectiles as experienced in Northern Ireland) is not immune to the larger roadside bomb and rocket attacks.Some have called for British troops to be equipped with Humvees, or other such vehicles. However, similarcriticisms have been levelled at the American vehicle. Other proposals include the South African madeRG-31 or similar larger and more heavily armoured trucks or armoured vehicles that provide greaterprotection.

There have been many rumours about a replacement vehicle type. This is most likely the larger, higher-capacity 4x4 or 6x6 Pinzgauer forward-control vehicle similar to the now disused Land Rover 101 ForwardControl, given that the current Land Rover design is also reaching its weight limits due to the increasing


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50th Anniversary Defender

Tomb Raider 90 Special Edition

amounts of communications and weapons gear used by modern patrol forces.

In recent years Land Rover has occasionally produced Special Editions of the Defender. These have usuallybeen little more than a vehicle being fitted with certain option packs and equipment, although more bespokeEditions have been produced. Mostly they have been aimed at the more lucrative 'lifestyle' market than theDefender's usual commercial and off-road markets.

In 1992 the first Special Edition Land Rover Defender was produced. Calledthe 90SV (SV stood for 'Special Vehicles', as all the vehicles were producedby Land Rover's Special Vehicle Operations department), they were paintedturquoise and were fitted with a black canvas Soft Top with standard doortops. Alloy wheels were also fitted, together with rear disc brakes (at thattime a first for a Land Rover). Despite the vehicle's sporty looks, it used thestandard 200Tdi turbodiesel engine. Only 90 were made for the UK market.

For Land Rover's 50th anniversary in 1998 two special editions were built.The first was the Defender 50th which was essentially a NAS (NorthAmerican Spec) Defender 90 Station Wagon. It was powered by a 190 hp(140 kW) 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine and was the first Land Rover outsideNorth America to be fitted with an automatic transmission. Air conditioningmade them very comfortable vehicles too. For the UK and Europe they werepainted Atlantis Blue, a dark green/blue flip-flop colour and had a SafetyDevices roll-over protection cage for the front seat occupants. In total 1071 50th Anniversary Defenderswere built; 385 for the UK home market, the rest for Japan, Europe and Middle East.

The second 1998 Special Edition was the 'Heritage', intended to hark back to the early days of Land Roverin the 1940s. Available in 90 or 110 Station Wagon form, the Heritage was only available in the two originalcolours offered by the company - the dark Bronze Green or the light pastel Atlantic Green. A metalmesh-effect front grille, body-coloured alloy wheels and wing mirrors and silver-painted door andwindscreen hinges were all employed to make the Heritage look similar to the original Series I of 1948.Inside special instruments were used, with black-on-beige displays. The powertrain was the standard Td5diesel engine and 4-wheel-drive transmission.

Possibly the best known Special Edition was the Tomb Raider of2000, built to commemorate Land Rover's role in the first film of thatfranchise. The Tomb Raider was designed to look like an off-roadexpedition vehicle. Painted dark metallic grey with special badgingand details, the Tomb Raiders came equipped with a roof rack,additional spot lights, winch, bull-bar and snorkel. They wereavailable either as a 90 Station Wagon or a 110 Double Cab, withstandard Td5 engines. The Defender actually used in the film (nowon display at the Motor Heritage Centre, Gaydon) was actually ahighly modified 110 High Capacity Pick Up with a specially fittedand tuned V8 petrol engine and a non-standard interior.

Following the first Land Rover G4 Challenge in 2003, G4-Edition Defenders became available. As well asthe distinctive Tangiers Orange colour of the competition vehicles, yellow and black versions were alsoproduced. Defender 90 and 110 Station Wagon versions were available, with front A-Bar, roll-cage,side-steps and front spotlights as standard, as well as G4 badging.

Since then, Land Rover have produced less extravagant Special Editions. The Defender Black was a 90 or


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110 County Station Wagon with metallic black paint, roll cage and dark-tinted rear windows. The DefenderSilver was a 110 County Station Wagon with silver metallic paint, front A-bar and spotlights, metalwing-protector plates and winch. The 1999 X-Tech was aimed at the commercial market, being a metallicsilver 90 Hard Top fitted with County-style seats, alloy wheels and Alpine window lights. The second modelyear edition in 2003 was better equipped with wing protector plates and air conditioning.

There have also been various special editions of the Defender created by the company's overseas operationsfor sale in their specific markets such as the 'Sahara' edition and '55th Anniversary' Defender 90s sold inFrance- the former being a basic-spec Station Wagon painted in a sand-like tan colour and supplied withspecial decals and the latter being a Station Wagon fitted with numerous luxury options and special badges inthe mould of the factory-built 50th editions. Sometimes individual Land Rover dealers have created limitededitions of vehicles to suite their markets. A dealer in Scotland created the 'Braemar' edition of 25 vehiclesto appeal to local agricultural and forestry buyers, being a 90 Hard Top supplied ready fitted with a winch,off-road tyres, spotlamps and worklamps, underbody protection and chequer plate.

2008 saw Land Rover's 60th anniversary, for which a new series of special edition Defenders wereproduced. Branded the 'SVX', three models were built. All were painted black with 'satin' effect bodygraphics on the vehicles sides and bonnet carrying the '60th' logo used throughout 2008 at various specialevents and on anniversary merchandise. Bespoke 5-spoke alloy wheels were used and a new silver-colouredfront grille design was used. This also incorporated a new design of headlamp with the sidelight lamp beingintegral with the main headlamp unit, allowing the space previously used for the separate sidelight to be usedto fit a pair of high-intensity driving lamps. Inside the SVX models gained Recaro bucket seats in the frontrow, alloy gearlever knobs and a Garmin GPS navigation system. The drivetrain was the standard 2.4-litrediesel and 6-speed manual permanent 4-wheel-drive transmission. The SVX edition was available as a 110Station Wagon (only available outside the UK), a 90 Station Wagon and a brand-new design of 90 Soft Top-the first time a Soft Top model had been available through showrooms in the UK since 1992. SVX Soft Topshad only the two front seats- the rear load bay being used to accommodate the spare wheel and a lockablestorage box. A new design of hood was used, sloping down towards the rear over a jointed folding frame,unlike the standard square-framed hood used on other Soft Top Land Rovers.

Replacing the Defender with a new model has been in the planning stages for many years. The currentDefender has been in production since 1990. It does not meet the US safety requirements since 1998 andsince then Land Rover is offering US buyers more luxuriously equipped LR2 and LR3 instead. Totalreplacement will be needed by 2015, when new regulations regarding crash safety for pedestrians will renderthe current design obsolete in Europe.

Concept vehicles DC100 and DC100 Sport (http://www.landrover.com/gb/en/lr/defender-concept/dc100/) ,on which the replacement is intended to be based, were revealed at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. DC100is a conventional three-door off-roader with 2.0L turbo-charged diesel engine and DC100 Sport is a2-passenger pick-up with 2.0L petrol engine.[7] Unlike current Defender with 93", 110" and 130"wheelbases, DC100 was presented in 100" wheelbase (DC100 = Defender Concept 100" wheelbase).

It is intended that the new vehicle will be in production by 2015.[8] and will replace the then 25-year-oldmodel which is the longest running production of any Land Rover vehicle. Land Rover is planning 60,000 -80,000 units annually which would beat the 1970 record of between 55,000 and 60,000.[9]

^ "Facilities | Ford Motor Company Newsroom" (http://media.ford.com/plant_display.cfm?plant_id=50) .Media.ford.com. http://media.ford.com/plant_display.cfm?plant_id=50. Retrieved 2010-07-31.

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^ "Otokar" (http://www.otokar.com.tr/en/corporate/history.aspx) . Otokar. 2010-07-24. http://www.otokar.com.tr/en/corporate/history.aspx. Retrieved 2010-07-31.

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^ "KVM Online - - Assembly Works" (http://www.kvm.co.ke/supercategory.php?main=2) . Kvm.co.ke.http://www.kvm.co.ke/supercategory.php?main=2. Retrieved 2011-04-04.

3.

^ a b c d e f g Dymock, Eric (=2007). Land Rover File: All Models Since 1947. Dove. ISBN 0-9534142-8-0.4.^ Matthias, Pfannmuller; Schmidt, Boris (1998). Fifty Years of the Best 4x4xFar. autovision.ISBN 3-9805832-0-1.

5.

^ "Morattab and Otokar Landrovers" (http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/guide2landrover/ckd.html&date=2009-10-25+23:35:45) . Geocities.com. Archived from the original(http://www.geocities.com/guide2landrover/ckd.html) on 2009-10-26. http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/guide2landrover/ckd.html&date=2009-10-25+23:35:45. Retrieved2009-05-16.

6.

^ "Land Rover DC100 Sport (2011) at Frankfurt motor show" (http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/First-Official-Pictures/Land-Rover-Defender-DC100-Sport-concept-2011-at-the-Frankfurt-motor-show/). Car Magazine. 13 September 2011. http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/News/Search-Results/First-Official-Pictures/Land-Rover-Defender-DC100-Sport-concept-2011-at-the-Frankfurt-motor-show/. Retrieved 18 September 2011.

7.

^ "Land Rover confirms new version of its Defender model" (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14726189) .BBC News. 31 August 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14726189. Retrieved 31 August 2011.

8.

^ "Land Rover to Debut New Defender Concept in Frankfurt" (http://www.thetorquereport.com/2011/08/land_rover_to_debut_new_defend.html) . The Torque Report. 6 August 2011. http://www.thetorquereport.com/2011/08/land_rover_to_debut_new_defend.html. Retrieved 18 September 2011.

9.

NAS Land Rover Defender Specifications (http://www.parkcity4x4classics.com/index.php/specs/defender) (NAS stands for North American Specifications)http://www.lrfaq.org/http://www.landroverline.com/Features/history_of_land_rover.asphttp://www.rover.org.nz/pages/landrov/history.htmhttp://www.landrover.com.au/au/en/vehicles/defender/overview.htm

Land Rover Global Home (http://www.landrover.com/)Land Rover VIN codes on WikibooksLand Rover (http://www.dmoz.org//Recreation/Autos/Makes_and_Models/Land_Rover//) at theOpen Directory ProjectLand Rover clubs (http://www.dmoz.org//Recreation/Autos/Makes_and_Models/Land_Rover/Clubs//) at the Open Directory Project

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Land Rover Defender - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

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