The New Defender Will Not Be Like The Old One
This forces both wheels on the axle to react to any inputs from the driver or terrain. Off-road enthusiasts prefer this because it enables them to predict where the lowest point on their vehicle will be over any obstacle, because that lowest point鈥攖he differential housing鈥攏ever moves. If you slam on the brakes in a solid axle vehicle, the axle itself remains at a constant height, and only the sprung portion of your vehicle (everything held up by the suspension), dives down. In contrast, independent suspension provides much improved ride quality and handling. But off-roaders don鈥檛 like it because ground clearance constantly changes as the vehicle moves. Spy shots of the all-new Defender, taken while it was doing prototype testing in Moab, show that it is fitted with independent, and height adjustable air suspension. Like Terrain Response, Land Rover first began offering air suspension the mid-1990s, where it quickly gained a reputation as being fragile and unreliable.
To make the vehicle quieter, there is acoustic lamination for the windshield and door glass. The premium leather for the interior comes from Scotland, and wood for the cabin trim from 鈥渟ustainable forests,鈥?Land Rover says. The HSE鈥檚 cabin is roomier than that of the previous generation, with an increase of 4.7 inches in rear-seat legroom. The standard models are 196.6 inches long, while the new long-wheelbase models, introduced for 2014, are 204.7 inches long, giving them nearly eight inches more rear legroom than the regular version. The two-piece rear hatch is now power-operated, and can be opened with the remote control for the door locks; only the top three-quarters opens automatically. An aluminum suspension system was designed to give the vehicle more stability and better handling. It no longer has the top-heavy feel of the previous models, something off-road users will appreciate. The Range Rover鈥檚 air-suspension system helps give additional stability during cornering, and allows the vehicle to raise itself up to an additional 5.8 inches off road to clear obstacles. It lowers about two inches from normal highway height to allow for easier entry and exit. A smart-key system allows for pushbutton start and stop of the engine, and there is a system that shuts the engine down while the vehicle is stopped in traffic or at signals. Range Rovers can wade through water up to 35.4 inches deep, and have a maximum of 11.7 inches of ground clearance. We have a state park close by that has a road that runs through a creek, but it鈥檚 just a few inches deep, so we didn鈥檛 give the vehicle a real deep-water test.
Each step up the trim ladder brings styling changes, swanky in-car treats, and new options to further customize your SUV. The standard powertrain in all models is a 237-horsepower four-cylinder engine mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive is standard across the lineup. 7,000, depending on the trim. Rather than embellishing the upper trim levels with a wealth of amenities, Land Rover offers the bulk of its upgrades in option packages. For example, the Cold Climate package bundles together heated front and rear seats, ventilated front seats (select trims only), a heated steering wheel, and a heated front windshield. Advanced driver assistance features - such as a surround-view camera, autonomous emergency braking, and traffic sign recognition - are available in several different packages. You can also add a third-row seat to any edition powered by the standard engine. We recommend taking a close look at the Land Rover Discovery Sport HSE because its price and an appealing collection of features makes it a good value.
It鈥檚 a far cry from its squared-off solid-axled predecessors from decades, as you might imagine. On our drive, we were only able to sample models with the air suspension and either 20- or 21-inch alloy wheels, but all were remarkably compliant over increasingly punishing on- and off-road terrain. A thin-rimmed steering wheel styled like that found on Defenders and Range Rovers long ago delivered little in the way of road feel but nonetheless helped us confidently hustle the tall SUV through winding switchbacks at speed. Both engines provide ample grunt, with the gas V-6 feeling sprightlier from all speeds but not delivering the instant, off-the-line torque of the turbodiesel. Oddly, the gas motor鈥檚 rumble was more pronounced inside the Disco. 2,000 upcharge for the turbodiesel, its smooth nature and mountain of torque make it our choice. The turbodiesel acquits itself especially well off road, although both engines feature the kind of gentle throttle modulation necessary for loose terrain.
In a one-minute teaser clip, Land Rover hints at the new LR4/Discovery lineup. The automaker has announced that in 2015 the Discovery will no longer be a single vehicle, but an entire lineup of different models. While we don't get to see much of it in the clip, we do see an outline at the very end. Going off the sketchy outline, the new lineup will be very reminiscent of the Range Rover models, giving the automaker a difficult task of keeping the two lineups separate from each other in terms of styling. The current LR4 and LR2 models may not be as luxurious as its Range Rover siblings, but with a new design, that may all change. This teaser comes in as part of Land Rover's celebration of the 25th anniversary of the LR4 and Discovery models. The automaker is calling for stories that celebrate the history of the model. Land Rover wants to usher in the new age of the LR4/Discovery with the help of current and past owners, and has also launched a special edition model to further the celebration.
