New Land Rover Defender 130 spotted: price, specs and release date
August 20, 2021 by
Land Rover’s popular new Defender has been spotted testing in a longer wheelbase guise. Read on for details known so far.
- Land Rover Defender 130 spied
- Diesel, hybrid and petrol engines expected
- Up to 525hp from supercharged V8
- Will be positioned as premium variant
- 13.5 inches longer than Defender 110
- Eight seat configuration option
- Pick-up variant likely
- Should go on sale in 2022
A new Land Rover Defender 130 has been spotted, becoming the longest version of the reborn off-road icon.
When it arrives next year, the Defender 130 should be pitched as a range-topping variant and will be an alternative to a variety of premium SUVs from the Mercedes-Benz G-Class to the Jeep Wrangler.
New Land Rover Defender 130 design
It may be wrapped in visually distorting camouflage, but you’re likely familiar with the current Defender’s design. What is new is the extended rear end. The long rear overhang and extra window area above and behind the rear wheel arch will be where an extra row of seats is situated.
It loses a bit of the square stature of the shorter 90 and 110 models, but the extra interior space will make the 130 far more family-friendly.
A pick-up version may also be a possibility, offering a spacious rear load bed to make the Defender a luxurious workhorse alternative to the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok.
New Land Rover Defender 130 interior
No images have surfaced yet of this upcoming model’s interior, but we can expect the same layout as already used in the current Defender 90 and 110 models.
That means a chunky yet modern dashboard design, with a central touchscreen and digital driver display and plenty of quality materials. The 130 is likely to be marketed as a range-topping version so it should be fitted with more standard equipment and perhaps a few new features compared to its stablemates.
New Land Rover Defender 130 engines and driving
The current selection of petrol, diesel and hybrid powerplants should be made available here, however, the slightly heavier bodyshell may see a slight decrease in performance figures.
For example, the popular mild-hybrid 400hp 3.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine as used in the 110 may add a few tenths to that model’s 6.1-second 0-60mph time.
The 525 supercharged V8 should still prove indecently rapid in the Defender 130, offering a 0-60mph dash in just over 5 seconds. Handling is likely to be more focused towards comfort than involvement for this gargantuan model, though.
New Land Rover Defender 130 price and release date
The Land Rover Defender should go on sale in the UK in 2022. Prices are likely to start at a fair premium over the current base Defender 110’s £49,665.
With the Defender 130 unlikely to be offered in low trim levels, it should start off at around £70,000 with range-topping V8 models costing over £110,000.
Can’t wait for the Defender 130? Check out deals on the 90 and 110 here.
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