Finally, the re-imagined new Land Rover Defender 110 has arrived in Malaysia. It has taken awhile, namely due to the pandemic dropping in and making life a little bit different from everyone but it is here. Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia launched the new Defender with two variants, namely the 2.0L 300PS Ingenium 4-cylinder Electronic Control, Direct-injection petrol engine and the 3.0L 400PS MHEV (Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle) 6-cylinder petrol engine.
The asking price of the 2.0L 300PS variant starts from RM798,800 while the 3.0L 400PS MHEV starts from RM998,800 (price is inclusive of 50% Penjana Sales Tax waiver, excluding Road Tax, Registration and Insurance). But if you add the optional roof rack or the optional snorkel ad utility box you see in the car below, its going to be a whole lot more. Yes, the price is nothing like the price of the old Defender 110 when it was offered here but this re-imagined Defender is nothing like the old namesake actually.
Essentially underneath that new monocoque chassis is everything you see in a similarly specced Ranger Rover Velar 2.0L with air suspension or a Range Rover Sport to some extent. All the off-road and all terrain systems are pulled from these vehicles and even the materials used are more Range than Land Rover. It is a Defender made more luxurious. Even the price shocked us a little but that said, with all the gadgetry inside, you pay for what you get. And the people that buy this new Landie are buying it as their new toy rather than for farming.
After broadcasting the price to my friends via the usual WhatsApp group chats and reading them type 'aiyoh', 'holy sheet' and 'wow', it must be shared that this new Defender targets the current crop of Jaguar Land Rover owners globally. Gone are the days where farmers or the military bought them for their workhorse. In those days, it made perfect sense for Land Rover to keep producing a sixty year old 4x4 for sale as the cost to make them was cheap and there was demand.
But eventually times have changed and actually it wasn't the farmers that kept the old Defender in demand but the military forces, especially the British Armed Forces that bought many thousands of them at a time. Demand tapered off tremendously due to the fact that war these days is fought differently from the times where soldiers could drive around in unarmoured vehicles.
These days they have to cope with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) that are scattered on roads, fields which would often lead to unarmoured transport like a Land Rover to get blown up. So it led to the military using specifically designed vehicles than keep using a very, very old one. If you Googled on what the British Army uses these days (Jackal or MWMIK (pronounced EmWimmick) or Mobility Weapon-Mounted Installation Kit) , the requirements for such a vehicle are so different from something a commercial 4x4 can offer. Once that happened, the future for Land Rover was destined to take a different path. i.e Less on the commercial vehicle market.
I think that path is one where the company had to reinvent itself so that it stays relevant. So this is why the new Defender is all about being stylish, equipment packed and more of a toy for the well heeled. It does keep a lot of the old styling touches like the boxy shape and the Alpine Windows you see on the left and right of the roof. Of course, being a Land Rover, it has that off-roading capability that it is well known for. The only issue is that like most vehicles in the Jaguar Land Rover line-up, the target audience is a little more niche. It should be for a small volume manufacturer these days as niche cars are usually priced with some premium.
I do think the cabin is super comfy and more akin to a Range Rover than a Land Rover. More Range and Land Rover so it is definitely something for one's hobby rather than a workhorse. This is the theme throughout the Defender actually.
So there you go. It is an interesting vehicle for the amount asked. Blame the weak Ringgit and the usual high taxes we are slapped with when we buy fully imported cars. Of course, even if you locally assemble one you may only see a RM50,000 reduction in price and what the heck is RM50K when it is RM800k in the first place? Do note that if you scout for one on the slightly used grey market here, the prices are also expensive. It isn't cheap to begin with.
Anyway, if you are interested in one, most of the fully imported units of the first batch have all been spoken for. You may think that RM800K or RM1 million is a lot, but let's just say that around thirty or more brand new units have been booked. JLR Malaysia has also said that they also brought in some refurbished, certified used units from the UK for those that would want to own one (at a more affordable price) but even these have been taken up by their customers who cannot wait for a new one.
Summary of the 2021 Land Rover Defender for Malaysia
Built for adventurous hearts and curious minds, the new Land Rover Defender is the most capable and durable 4x4 vehicle in the world. It combines off-road ability with toughness to create the ultimate dual-purpose vehicle through delivery of a practical technology and a functional design.
Syed Ahmad Muzri Syed Faiz the Managing Director for Jaguar Land Rover Malaysia said while the new Defender is now fully equipped with the latest innovations and improvements, it remains Land Rover’s toughest and most capable vehicle built for adventure and exploration of the rugged outdoors.
“By incorporating the latest innovations, the Defender is ideal not only for 4x4 adventures but also for daily city driving. The upgrades reflect the times and the changing needs of the current generation of drivers,” he added.
The high performance 2.0L 300PS Ingenium produces a maximum power of 300PS at 5,500rpm and a maximum torque of 400Nm at 1,500 – 4,500rpm, while the more efficient 3.0L (pictured above) 400PS MHEV powertrain, featuring a conventional twin-scroll turbocharger and an advanced 48-volt electric supercharger, offers 400PS of power and 550Nm of torque, 0-100km/h in 6.1 seconds. Both come with an 8 speed automatic transmission.
Chassis
The chassis and new D7x body architecture that is built based on a lightweight aluminium monocoque construction, have been engineered to withstand Land Rover’s Extreme Event Test procedure of repeated and sustained impacts, above and beyond the normal standard for SUV and passenger cars.
The Defender’s strong body architecture allows for towing or carrying of heavy loads with a roof rack and tow bar systems and a maximum towing capacity of 3,500kg. Its ultra-strong body is ready for overland adventures, with a maximum static roof load of 300kg.
Its new body architecture also allows for ground clearance of 291mm. With a wheelbase of 3,022mm (99mm longer than a Discovery), the Defender 110 has a breakover angle of 28 degrees – offering world-class off-road geometry. Its maximum wading depth of 900mm is supported by a new Wade programme in the Terrain Response system, which ensures drivers can wade through deep water with complete confidence.
Adaptive Dynamics that is available with Electronic Air Suspension, allows customers to fine-tune the driving characteristics. The system’s adaptive dampers monitor body movements up to 500 times per second and respond almost instantaneously to optimise control and comfort.
The introduction of air suspension helps transform the 4x4’s on-road handling and supports its all-terrain capability, providing an off-road ride height lift of 75mm and supreme ride comfort across all surfaces. An additional 70mm of lift means the air system can raise the body by a maximum of 145mm when needed, while Elegant Arrival automatically lowers the body by 40mm to aid access.
Adding to this is a 3D Surround Camera with new 3D exterior perspectives alongside a 360° overhead view which makes manoeuvring easier, while off-road views, including the innovative ClearSight Ground View, provide drivers with confidence when scaling various terrains.
Named the winner of the 2021 World Car Design of the Year, the new Defender a distinctive silhouette that makes it instantly recognisable, with minimal front and rear overhangs providing excellent approach and departure angles. Land Rover’s designers have re-envisioned familiar Defender trademarks, giving the 4x4 a purposeful upright stance, Alpine roof lights and a chamfered roofline, while retaining the side-hinged rear tailgate and externally mounted spare wheel that made the original so identifiable.
Interior
Inside, the highly functional cabin design is marked out by exposed structural elements and 21st century technologies, including a state-of-the-art new Pivi Pro infotainment system that is coupled with the British-based Meridian Sound System. Other convenient features packaged with the new Defender include a Head-up Display, ClearSight Interior Rear View Mirror and a Click and Go System integrated base unit for the integration of additional accessories should there be a need, for the convenience of second row passengers to hold their bags, laptops or jackets.
Land Rover’s innovative ClearSight interior rear-view mirror is another great feature of the Defender. It ensures unobstructed view even if you have tall people sitting in the back seat or cargo area piled high with camping equipment, furniture, or moving boxes. It uses a rear-mounted camera to display a wide-angle camera view of what’s behind your vehicle right on your rear-view mirror.
The rear loadspace delivers customary Defender practicality with the 110 providing up to 1,075-litres when using the full height. With a generous maximum load volume of up to 2,380-litres and a maximum payload of up to 900kg, the new Defender lives up to the practical heritage of its iconic predecessors. It has the option of five or 5+2 seating which makes it versatile as a family car or for loading bulky items needed for an adventure.
For more information, head over to www.landrover.com.my. All Land Rover vehicles come with Land Rover Care programme which includes a five-year warranty, five years’ free service and three years’ roadside assistance
Photos - Two vehicles are pictured in this article, both are the 3.0liter version with different options like the snorkle and utility box on one and the roof rack and ladder option on the other with different alloy wheel specs
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