[blackwasp]

The Land Rover Defender's production ended in January 2016. Now, a couple of test mules have been spotted which are believed to be the 2018 Defender.

The two spotted mules had different wheelbases with the shorter wheelbase (SWB) version carrying a Discovery body shell and the longer wheelbase (LWB) version carrying a Range Rover Sport body shell. Considering that both these body shells have a unibody construction, it is believed that the new defender will also have a similar architecture and not the traditional body-on-frame construction.

According to the media report, given the track of the car and the shorter wheelbase, the spotted mule was most likely the Defender. From the spy shots, it is visible that the SWB model featured an independent suspension at the rear and had very small rear doors.

The spotted vehicles could be testing the chassis and the powertrain of the new Defender. The final shape of the vehicle is not yet known, however there have been speculations that the new design will be completely different from the boxy shape of the previous model.

The Defender enjoyed an iconic status over the years due to its go-anywhere ability and a very capable 4x4 system. Due to the emission norms, JLR ceased production of the vehicle after a production run of 68 years. The new model is expected to be revealed in 2018.











Source - Autoblog

Link to the Team-BHP News

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Could this be the TATA range being tested instead? The SWB and LWB configurations sound suspicious as that's the same TATA is targeting as well.

The LWB base especially doesn't look like a vehicle which can have a Discovery nameplate on it, wheras the SWB one looks the part.

[A M]

The rear door looks to be very small and unusable on the SWB. Wonder why they have even kept it!

[n.devdath]

I strongly suspect that this isn't the new Defender.

LR knows that the Defender needs to look different from all the other offerings and a SWB RRS wont fit the bill there.

What this could be is the Defender's drive away chassis being tested with a bogey shell.

[romeomidhun]

There is something suspicious about the body. Look at the clear misalignment marked here - a cut-copy-paste kind of work? And no manufacturer will give such a small 2nd row door - unless for pets.

[shortbread]

Last of the real V8 Defenders

A final run of the iconic V8 engined brutes, Land Rover will make 150 of these definitive future classics. All of which unsurprisingly have sold out most probably, especially since these are most likely to appreciate faster than your average FD.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUtJBESCZCg

Land Rover is re-engineering up to 150 Defenders with V8 engines, to celebrate the brand's 70th birthday.

The 5.0-litre V8 Defender will be the most powerful and fastest yet made, with the 90in wheelbase model hitting 60mph from rest in 5.6sec.

The Defender Works V8 will produce 399bhp and 380lb ft, while the standard Defender made just 120bhp and 266lb ft.

Land Rover said it pays homage to early high-powered engines such as the Series III Stage V8 and the 50th Anniversary Edition. The Defender Works V8 is the first official V8 Defender to be launched since 1998.

The interior will have a leather dashboard, door panels, headlining and Recaro sports seats and use the Land Rover Classic heritage arm’s infotainment system.

Both 90 and 110 wheelbase Defender Works V8 models will be available, with prices starting from £150,000.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/n...urns-399bhp-v8