Upcoming Land Rover Defender Looks Very Inspired By G-Wagen

Fans of the Land Rover Defender have been anxiously awaiting the new model for several years since the last update was in 2011. Finally, the company has unveiled a new Land Rover model with the caption, “Do not unwrap until 2019.” More information is set to be available on Dec. 27, 2018, according to Land Rover representatives.The new model does seem to retain the iconic vehicle’s boxy design, though few other details are currently available. Earlier this month, the company published a press release entitled “what we’re up to in 2019,” though no mention of the new Defender model was made.

The Land Rover Defender, a British four-wheel drive off-road vehicle designed in the 1980s from an original series that was unveiled at the Amsterdam Motor Show in April 1948, ended production on Jan. 29 2016. The new special edition Defender Works V8, with 400bhp, was revealed in January 2018. The next-generation model, which is codenamed L663, will be available in two wheelbase sizes.

The new Defender is expected to be a four-door hardtop that may be power retractable. The newest model is also expected to have current accessories like decorative LEDs up front and a customized interior.

It is also expected to be inspired by the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, known as the G-Wagen, a mid-size four-wheel drive luxury SUV designed by Magna Steyr in Austria and sold by Mercedes-Benz. The G-Wagen is known for its boxy design and body-on-frame construction. It has three fully locking differentials and has been in continuous production for 35 years.

The G-Wagen was intended as a military vehicle for the Shah of Iran, who owned shares in Mercedes Benz. The first international military to use the G-Wagen was the Argentine Army starting in 1981 with the military model 461. In 1983, a modified 280 GE won the Paris–Dakar Rally driven by Jacky Ickx and Claude Brasseur.

The second generation G-Class was introduced on January 14, 2018, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Compared to its predecessor, the new G-Class has increased its width by 121 millimeters, and length by 53 millimeters and currently has 6 millimeters more ground clearance. Visually though, it differs very little from its predecessor.

Source: Hot Cars