The iconic Land Rover Defender has an enviable off-road ability and sales still top 23,000-plus per annum worldwide.
Beneath the bulging pressed aluminium bonnet lies a four-cylinder 2.4-litre common rail turbodiesel taken from the Transit; Ford owns Land Rover. In Defender trim it produces 122 bhp and develops 266 Ib/ft of peak torque, most of which is available between 1,500rpm and 2,700rpm.
This engine is much more refined than the TD5 unit it replaces and the high torque output endows Defender with a substantial off-road ability.
It retains a manual shift dual range permanent four-wheel drive transmission, but gains a six-speed manual gearbox. It hits the 82mph speed-limiter - to match the speed rating of the tyres - in fifth and sixth gear.
The really big change, however, is to be found inside the Defender. For the first time ever it gets a heating/ventilation system that actually makes for a more comfortable life for those in the cab.The dashboard is borrowed from the Discovery and there's a four-gauge instrument binnacle with a revcounter and digital odometer on all models. There's even a premium Radio/CD player with dash-mounted tweeters.
The line-up, as before, includes 90, 110 and 130 derivatives, with a choice of Hard Top, Pick-up, Double Cab Pick-up and chassis cabs.