It's almost as if Land Rover wanted the message of his latest work, which is in the limelight at the IAA, to beat the message. Scarcely a dozen times the lettering on the plate, which betrays the famous ancestral line: Defender.
Defender, that's that legendary, rock-hard SUV that's synonymous with the Land Rover brand. From 1948 to 2016, it was optically built virtually unchanged until it crashes EU crash test standards. He is an automotive icon like the Porsche 911, the Mercedes G model, the Mini. A car that even recognizes people who have no idea about cars.
That was a problem for Land Rover design boss Gerry McGovern. He was entrusted with one of the most difficult tasks the subject had to offer in recent years. After the involuntary release of the old-defender, he should draw a successor to the roughneck. One that on the one hand meets all the requirements of existing standards in the automotive industry, at the same time unmistakably Defender. Apparently, one wanted to play it safe at Land Rover - and patted the lettering extra often on the car.
A seat springs from the middle
No wonder: McGovern's new Defender has become a car that shares with the predecessor no sheet metal part and no line, but at least in the eyes of the designer still has the same character: "We did not want to be forced into a corset and Do not make a retro model, but wanted to do the original all the best. " The result gives McGovern an outrageous "new defender for a new era." And one that you can still see right away: The kullerrunden Glubschaugen in the upright bow, the steep windshield, the horizontal roof with panoramic windows with "Alpine Windows" and the outside battered spare wheel. "One look is enough, and you immediately have the Defender in mind," says McGovern.
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Land Rover Defender: The off-road roughneck in new editionBut no matter how diligently the tradition is conjured up in terms of appearance: Technically, the Defender, which, like its predecessor, will be presented as a short "90s" with three doors or as a stretched "110s" with five doors, takes its leave of its heritage. The principle of the ladder frame with rigid axles is passé, instead the Defender moves together with the Discovery on a modern platform. A self-supporting body, contemporary petrol and diesel engines with Mild and later plug-in hybrid technology and numerous assistance systems to make him fit for the future. The British have even screwed digital instruments and a touch screen into the cockpit, the software is updated "over the air" and there is a WLAN hotspot for surfing on the street.
Firefighters as development workers
After all, the Defender offers a few peculiarities, which are in vain looking for other SUVs. As recently only the Fiat Multipla and a few delivery trucks, the Defender has a folding seat between driver and front passenger. This is how the family coach becomes a team transporter. And those who want to stow their trash on the back seat, do not have to stuff it in the seat pocket in front of them, but on request get a kind of wall shelf, which can be hung in the side window.
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The novelties of the IAA 2019: That gives troubleAt the same time, the development of the parallel existence of Defender as a workhorse was not entirely forgotten. The British have ennobled for this purpose conservationists and rescue services to development partners and leave their prototypes about the Red Cross.
Also considered is the clientele that uses the car as an expedition or camping vehicle. In addition to lifestyle options such as 22-inch aluminum wheels, matt lacquer or fold-out steps, the more than 170 accessories and extras include expedition extras such as roof tents, folding ladders, compressed air generators or snorkels for breathing in deep water. How much the new Defender honors the tradition of its predecessor - the fans will argue about it anyway.