Land Rover is wrapping up tests of its next-gen Defender SUV in the Borana Conservancy (Kenya, East Africa). The wildlife reserve boasts rolling hills, lush plains, winding rivers and rich, dense forests teeming with lions.
The company has purposefully painted its Kenyan test mule to blend in with the local landscape. It used the car to track lions and carry various equipment. During its mission, the SUV had to cross numerous water obstacles, conquer extreme wilderness, and haul heavily loaded trailers around.
The next Land Rover Defender should arrive into the showrooms before the end of the current year, offering a choice between three and five doors. A pickup truck and a long wheelbase variant may also debut sometime in the future, but this is not official yet.
The next generation comes based on a brand-new chassis design that notably features per-wheel suspension. The power options will likely include various turbocharged four-cylinder Ingenium engines (gasoline and diesel), as well as a hybrid powertrain. The more expensive trim versions might get V6s.
Photos: Land Rover