The new Land Rover Defender only arrived in showrooms across Europe this spring, but is already underway to its first minor update: a few previously unavailable trim levels go on sale in Great Britain starting today.
The Defender P400e is the new flagship now, and it is a plug-in hybrid armed with the same tech as the Range Rover: a 2.0-liter turbo-four (300 hp / 224 kW) plus an electric motor (143 hp / 107 kW). The transmission is eight-speed automatic, and the peak output amounts to 404 hp (300 kW) and 640 Nm (472 lb-ft). The off-roader hits 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.6 seconds and has 43 kilometers (26.7 miles) of all-electric range thanks to its 19.2-kWh battery.
The P400 version is a mild hybrid that uses an inline-six in conjunction with a 48V starter. It makes 400 hp (298 kW) and 550 Nm (410 lb-ft) of torque, and concludes the sprint in 6.1 seconds.
New middle-ground trim called X-Dynamic complements the range with a choice between grey and black wheels, as well as black mirror caps, lighting frames and fenders. Robustec upholstery in the cabin is accompanied by metallic scuff plates and a redesigned center console.
The four-cylinder diesel is gone from the lineup, replaced by a 3.0-liter inline-six, twin-turbo Ingenium diesel assisted by a 48-volt hybrid system. This one is available in three specs – D 200, D250 and D300 – and delivers between 200 and 300 hp (150 – 224 kW) along with 500 – 650 Nm (370 – 480 lb-ft) of torque. All three variants pair up with eight-speed automatic transmission and are available for all Defender 90 and 110 versions. Depending on the specific version, the SUV needs between 6.7 and 10.2 seconds to reach 100 km/h. Fuel economy for the LWB Defender 110 D200 / D250 amounts to 8.8 liters per 100 km in mixed cycle (UK: 32 MPG; USA: 26.7 MPG).
Finally yet importantly, the 90 and the 110 can now be purchased in a new Hard Top version with only two seats and a huge 2,059-liter (73-cu.ft.) trunk. The Hard Top ships only with diesel engines, can carry up to 800 kilograms (1,760 lbs) of cargo and haul a trailer weighing up to 3.5 metric tons (7,700 lbs).
The refreshed Defender lineup is already available to pre-order in Great Britain starting from £35,820.