SPIED: All-new Spy Shots Of The Next-gen Land Rover DEFENDER — Is This Looking Like A STUD or DUD?

Land Rover has the world waiting with baited breath for its all-new Defender, due in 2020, and fresh spyshots reveal more of the 4x4's design. 

The first sighting of Land Rover's reborn icon with more production ready bodywork came from official 'spyshots' of the five-door '110' variant, and soon after our snapper caught the short-wheelbase three-door '90' model testing in disguise. An even longer-wheelbase '130' version is rumoured, too.  

This time, a prototype has hit the roads with a rear-mounted spare wheel for the first time. It's not clear yet if that's a feature that will make production, but it's likely given the car's off-road focus and the styling link to the old model. 

MDarringer - 12/8/2018 7:39:00 AM

+1 Boost

I fear that it will be yet another generic version of the copy-and-paste styling that makes other LR/RR products looks almost indistinguishable from each other.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 12/8/2018 9:02:09 AM

+4 Boost

The Defender has a lot of jobs none of which have been taking soccer Mom's to the mall. A military truck, a supply truck, ambulance, Safari truck, etc. They were knock down kits in the past and assembled in the country where they were sold if I remember correctly. Nothing wrong with making it safer, but leave the luxury finishes to the rest of the line up. The Defender should stay as close as it can to its roots.

dumpsty - 12/10/2018 8:18:03 AM

+1 Boost

If JLR is still selling - at least 50k/yr - of the various Defender kits for all those mission requirements globally, then I'd definitely agree. But how expensive are they today? JLR mostly has done their homework & knows how much of a celebrity the Defender "name" is.

Today's soccer moms (& dads/aunts/uncles/grans?etc) will buy a street-legal tank if it was "en vogue" socially. See Escalade, H2, Navigator, LX, G-wagen.

valhallakey - 12/8/2018 10:20:13 AM

+3 Boost

Definitely more squared looking than their other new models. This is in line with how I thought they would separate Land Rover and Range Rover. Land Rover should be hard core off road with Jeep Wrangler type capabilities. Range Rover should still have good off road abilities but look sleeker, appeal to urbanites and soccer moms more directly. Unfortunately the Discovery messed up the plot. In any case i like this Defender so far.

Truthy - 12/8/2018 1:45:58 PM

0 Boost

Looks remarkably like the previous generation Diacovery.

PUGPROUD - 12/8/2018 7:28:37 PM

0 Boost

They need to get this right...too much at stake from a branding standpoint to misfire. The brand has enough fluff now and needs a basic, simple workhorse to maintain its credibility and heritage. We will see when it is actually introduced how they did.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 12/9/2018 12:06:05 PM

+2 Boost

@PUGPROUD you are correct. I am guessing it will miss. Very much LR4 in this design. Mercedes did a very good job with the G-Wagon. I think Land Rover is too focused on the future and this new model will bear little resemblance to the old Defender.

dumpsty - 12/10/2018 8:21:14 AM

+1 Boost

If JLR is planning to bring the next Defender to the US, they definitely need a solid, brick-like 4-door version that can run confidently next to the G-wagen.

MDarringer - 12/10/2018 9:02:09 AM

0 Boost

Actually, they need a Jeep Wrangler to grab some sales volume.