After a 21 year hiatus, the Defender nameplate is returning to America. With test prototypes recently
snapped on UK roads, Land Rover has officially confirmed that the next-generation
Defender will begin testing in North America as well, starting from January
2019.
Testing of camouflaged prototypes on- and off-road
will be followed by an official reveal of the all-new Defender later next year.
More importantly, the Defender will go on sale in the United States and Canada
in 2020. The first development mules and prototypes have
already reached North American shores earlier this month and will start testing
next month. Land Rover says it needs to test the Defender in North America
given the wide variety of terrain and surfaces available on the continent.
Furthermore, the new model will be subjected “to
rigorous test extremes” to make sure it is the most off-road capable Land Rover
vehicle ever. According to the carmaker, tests will be performed in
temperatures ranging from -40F to +120F, on- and off-road, and at altitudes of
more than 3,962 meters above sea level.
The upcoming Defender will feature an all-new
exterior and interior design, as well as the latest driver assistance and
connectivity features available. The company also says it will be “a
revolutionary product for Land Rover with even broader public appeal.” Unfortunately, Land Rover isn’t
willing to disclose anything else about the new Defender and says all will be
revealed in 2019.
