Since the new Land Rover Defender came to market in 2019, we’ve gotten a 4-door version called the Defender 110 and a 2-door short-wheelbase version called the Defender 90. Now, a longer Defender 130 is on the way, and spy photographers were able to capture it testing once again. We’ve only seen this prototype once before, but there’s not much mystery surrounding what it is: essentially a longer Defender 110. However, despite the numeric names being used to denote wheelbase length in the past, the 130 of today will have the same 3,020 mm wheelbase as the 110.
Instead, its extra length comes in the
form of an extended rear overhang to accommodate a full-sized third row of
seats. A presentation from 2019 suggested that the upcoming Defender 130 will
be 5,100 mm long, which would make it 340 mm longer than the regular 110 model. Looks will be the same as the 90 and 110,
but again, just longer. Based on patent documents from January, it appears the
SUV will still retain its rear-mounted spare tire and “Safari Windows” on the
corners of the roof. It’s safe to expect the interior design to remain the same
as well, just with the addition of two extra seats. It’s worth noting that the
110 does offer an optional third row of seats, but legroom is minimal assuming
you’re an adult.
It’s likely that engine options for the
130 will be carried over from the 130, though we could see them uprated to
handle the SUV’s extra weight. The current Defender 110’s engine range includes
a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 296 hp and 400 Nm of torque. The range also includes a mild-hybrid 3.0-liter
inline-six, which produces 395 hp and 550 Nm of
torque. Finally, there’s the 5.0-liter supercharged V8, which makes a hefty 518
hp and 846 Nm of torque, though if there’s one
engine that doesn’t make it to the 130, it would probably be this one.
Based on last March’s announcement from
Jaguar Land Rover CFO Adrian Mardell saying that the 130 would arrive within
the next 18 months, expect the new SUV to be here roughly by August 2022.
