Land Rover’s all-new Defender 130 is the new top-end model of the Defender line-up. The result of a 340mm extension at the rear, the 130 offers enhanced interior space that can accommodate up to eight adults across three rows of full-size seating. In addition, a host of exterior and interior design enhancements and technologies distinguish the new Defender 130.
To set Defender 130 apart from the pack, it has an exclusive colour palette, including a new Sedona Red option. The exterior is further enhanced by the new Extended Bright Pack – available in addition to the existing Bright Pack – providing a distinct exterior design with Ceres Silver Satin finish around all lower body cladding, as well as the front and rear skid plates in Noble Chrome.
This specification provides an especially distinctive finish on vehicles finished in Hakuba Silver, Fuji White and Yulong White. Ceres Silver detailing can be found on the bonnet louvres and side fenders of all 130 models, complementing the 20-inch Luna alloy wheels, which are available in a Bright Silver finish. The Bright Pack offers front and rear skid plates in Noble Chrome, complemented by Gloss Black lower bumpers and wheel-arch extensions.
To maintain the distinctive rear design of the Defender line-up, the 130 has a subtle boat tail-style uplift that provides a departure angle of 28.5 degrees. The surrounds for the rear LED lighting units have been re-engineered to maintain the three distinct lines that define Defender’s side profile.
Access to the spacious cargo area is unchanged, however, a body-colour hard-shell cover for the spare wheel is available. Narvik Black roof rails are fitted as standard, while Defender’s full range of exterior accessories – including the Explorer, Adventure, Country and Urban packs – are also available.
Land Rover engineers have created an impressive interior space by maximising the amount of usable space, rather than increasing it. The extended rear means improved accommodation in the third row, with enough legroom and width to comfortably seat three adults. Creature comforts such as heated seats, padded armrests, storage and USB-C charging ports are provided to ensure third-row passengers don’t feel left behind. A standard second sunroof above the third row adds to the airiness of the cabin.
Passengers in rows two and three also benefit from a small stepped flooring that offers better visibility, while the Defender’s familiar outline ensures generous headroom in all three rows. Additional comfort is provided by ventilation for each row, with additional ducting providing more heating and air-conditioning capacity via optional Four Zone Climate Control. This is exclusive to the 130. ISOFIX child seat attachments are found on five of the passenger seats.
Defender 130 provides up to 389 litres of cargo volume even with the rearmost seat being upright. When rows two and three are both folded, the cargo area increases to as much as 2,291 litres. The five-seat version of Defender 130 offers the maximum load area, up to 2,5161 litres.
In addition to offering more room, the 130 comes with new interior options and detailing that contribute to a sophisticated cabin environment. Noble Chrome detailing is found on the air vent controls and electric seat switches, while speaker elements are finished in bright Ceres Silver and armrest hinges are finished in Atlas. These combine to complement the exterior Extended Bright Pack.
A new material finish – Natural Light Oak engineered wood veneer – lends a natural, premium look and feel to the interior. This veneer elegantly complements the Light Oyster Perforated Windsor Leather seating. With this choice of seating, the top roll and dashboard hoops are finished in Lunar – set against white powder coat Cross Car Beam elements that provide added depth and contrast. Vintage Tan Perforated Windsor Leather is available as an option, while X-Dynamic models can be specified with Robustec fabric in Duo Tone finish.
Defender 130’s dash has a three-panel layout that can be personalised. This includes the larger 11.4-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen, with a curved glass interface, as standard. It has a simple menu structure and Software Over The Air updating capability.
This intelligent system is capable of learning habits and will adapt accordingly, such as suggesting navigation guidance at the beginning of a recognised commute, while also reducing the number of audio instructions via Smart Voice Guidance in familiar surroundings. The 130 also integrates the global location platform what3words, which provides navigation even in remote environments via an innovative three-word global address system.
Land Rover’s Cabin Air Purification Plus makes its Defender debut in the new 130 as a standard feature. It combines with nanoeTMX technology for allergen reduction, pathogen removal and to help reduce odours. In addition, CO2 Management and PM2.5 Cabin Air Filtration improve the cabin environment by monitoring interior and exterior air and adjusting accordingly.
The First Edition of the 130 model builds on the HSE specification with an extensive equipment list, including Matrix LED headlamps, heated second and third-row seating, four-zone climate control, Meridian Sound System, Driver Assist Pack and Privacy Glass. All feature 20-inch alloy wheels as standard.
The Defender 130 is launching as a Mild-Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) powered by the P300 or P400 Ingenium petrol engines, or the D250 or D300 Ingenium diesel engines. All four feature a 48V Belt-integrated Starter Generator (BiSG) that harvests energy normally lost under braking and deceleration.
Both petrol engines are 3-litre Turbocharged inline-sixes. The P300 produces 300PS and 470Nm torque between 1500-4250 rpm. The P400 produces 400PS and 550Nm torque at 2000-5000 rpm. The two diesels are also 3-litre six-cylinder engines. The D250 produces 250PS and 600Nm torque at 1250-2250 rpm, while the D300 produces 300PS and 650Nm torque at 1500-2500 rpm.
Every Defender 130 is fitted with Land Rover’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive (iAWD) system and eight-speed ZF automatic transmission as standard. The iAWD technology manages the powertrain and power distribution between the front and rear axles.
The combination of Electronic Air Suspension with Adaptive Dynamics and Land Rover’s advanced Terrain Response system combine to deliver comfortable and effortless progress across broken surfaces. The Electronic Air Suspension system allows for up to 430mm of articulation. When wading, the 130 can ford up to 900mm of water.
The structural foundation of the 130, like the 90 and the 110, is Land Rover’s aluminium-intensive monocoque D7x architecture. With a torsional rigidity of 25kNm/Degree, the Defender is three times more rigid than traditional body-on-frame designs. It provides a towing capacity of up to 3000kg, while hitching is made easier with the Electronic Air Suspension – controlled via a switch panel inside the tailgate. Detachable and multi-height towbar designs are also available.
While sharing his opinion on the new Defender 130, Nick Collins, Executive Director of Vehicle Programmes at Land Rover, commented: “New Defender 130 brings a new dimension of capability to our most durable and rugged family of vehicles. Its spacious interior welcomes and transports up to eight people in supreme comfort, enabling unparalleled sophisticated adventuring opportunities for families, with unique design signatures to create a distinct New Defender experience.”
