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Land Rover has announced that its iconic Defender model is to have a makeover in order to bring it in to line with forthcoming safety and emissions legislation.
Having been virtually unchanged since it was first introduced in 1948, the Defender is to experience a number of major changes, not least internally in order to make it more attractive to the comfort-orientated American market.
The Defender will be powered by the Ford-sourced 1.4-litre diesel engine, which "represents a major step forward in terms of refinement and drivability" Land Rover said. This produces 122bhp and 265 lb per foot of torque at 2,000rpm.
It also meets Euro 4 emissions legislation and is sufficiently robust to deal with variable-quality high-sulphur fuels available in different countries.
The 2007 Defender will also come with a new six-speed manual gearbox with a remapped throttle response in each gear to improve control and reduce the risk of stalling.
Externally the Defender remains the same, aside from a modified bonnet to bring it in line with the minimum pedestrian protection legislation.
Internally however the Defender has been comprehensively refurbished, with a new 'functionality superior' fascia and dials and instruments based on the Discovery model. It will also feature improved ergonomics and a new heating and air conditioning system.
Front seats have been made larger to provide better head protection and back support, with all seats coming with a choice of cloth, vinyl or part-leather upholstery. Superior acoustic insulation and a quieter engine also add to the Defender 2007's greater comfort.
Land Rover said that further details on specifications, performance and pricing would be released at the Paris Motor Show next month.
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