This new Defender owes little to the old model, which itself evolved from the original 1948 Land Rover design, via the Series 1, 2, and 3. The Defender line started with the Ninety and One Ten, which differed from the Series 3 by having coil spring suspension rather than leaf springs, and the design changed little right through until the last Defender rolled off the production line on 29 January 2016. Land Rover is pointing out that the new Defender shares its predecessor's "rugged squared-off exterior, round headlights and signature rear-mounted spare tire" but there's nothing else in common other than the obvious go-anywhere ability.
“There are a handful of automobiles that are beloved around the world and stand for a brand, a country and a distinct way of life. The Land Rover Defender is such a singular vehicle," Kim McCullough, Vice President of Marketing for Jaguar Land Rover North America, tell us. "The all new Defender will be for sale here starting in 2020. This announcement is a holiday gift to our Defender fans in North America and a hint of what’s to come in the New Year.”
Images courtesy ofLand Rover North America
