Say Hello To The Long And Lavish Land Rover Defender 130

The Land Rover Defender has been around forever and was in desperate need of revitalization for years, but it finally got a redesign providing more style and luxury in late 2019. Land Rover needs to make the most of this vehicle and has been offering numerous variants to satisfy all tastes. Back in October of last year, leaked patent images confirmed that the Land Rover Defender would be getting longer in a bid to appeal to more customers, but it was only a couple of weeks ago that Land Rover itself confirmed these stories with an official image. Now, the finished product has been revealed to the world. Meet the Land Rover Defender 130.

As is evident from the images, the Defender has been extended by 13.38 inches at the rear to make space for three rows of seats, transporting eight people in total. Land Rover claims that there's enough space in the third row to comfortably seat three adults, but we'll wait until we can seat our own butts in the back before we comment on that claim. Regardless, Land Rover appears to have looked to maximize comfort for all by offering heated seats, padded armrests, storage bins, and UBC-C ports in the last row. A standard panoramic sunroof is complemented by another sunroof above the third row, while exclusive four-zone climate control further improves the luxury aspect. The rearmost seats are slightly higher up too, enhancing the view for those sat in the third row.

With all three rows in place, you get 13.7 cubic feet of cargo volume. Fold the third row and you open up an area of 43.5 cu. ft. Fold the third and second rows and you have an impressive 80.9 cu.ft. - enough for just about anything you can think of.

Land Rover has also enhanced the design in here, offering Noble Chrome detailing on the air vent controls and electric seat switches, and Ceres Silver elements for the speakers. The armrest hinges are finished in Atlas while a new material finish called Natural Light Oak is a new option for the trim accents, which LR says complements the Light Oyster Perforated Windsor Leather seating. If you go for this choice of seating, the top roll and dashboard hoops are finished in Lunar against white powder coat Cross Car Beam elements. Alternatively, Vintage Tan Perforated Windsor Leather can be optioned, while X-Dynamic models can also be had with Robustec fabric in a two-tone finish.

Borrowing from its smaller siblings, the Defender 130 comes with a larger 10.25-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen as standard, although the X specification allows you to have an 11.4-inch screen. By adding what3words functionality, the navigation system is now more capable than ever. For the first time, Cabin Air Purification Plus is also now provided as standard, helping clean the air of impurities and pathogens, which in turn reduces odors and viruses, "helping ensure occupants experience exceptional air quality." A Purge function allows you to remotely clean the cabin using your smartphone before you get in, further reducing your risk of a reaction to pollen or other allergens.

The exterior of the vehicle has also been given some exclusive treatment. A new Sedona Red paint option is limited to this model. The design of the vehicle can be complemented by the Extended Bright Pack, an option above the existing Bright Pack, "which provides a distinct exterior design with Ceres Silver Satin finish around all lower body cladding and front and rear skid plates in Noble Chrome." This pack is only offered in vehicles finished in Hakuba Silver, Fuji White, and Yulong White, adding Ceres Silver details to the hood louvers and side fenders. A set of 20-inch Luna wheels are available in a Bright Silver finish here too.

Narvik Black roof rails are standard across the board, while the full range of exterior accessories is offered: Explorer, Adventure, Country, and Urban packs are available.

The Defender 130 is available in S, SE, X-Dynamic SE, and X trim levels, along with a First Edition. This special model is offered in three combinations "carefully curated by the designers," each of which features a distinct color and design theme.

The first is Fuji White with Extended Bright Pack, Light Oyster leather, and Natural Light Oak Veneer. The second is in that exclusive Sedona Red, with the cabin finished in Ebony leather and Smoked Oak Veneer. Finally, we have Carpathian Grey with Vintage Tan leather and Rough-Cut Walnut Veneer.

The First Edition naturally gets more standard features, boasting heated second and third rows, four-zone climate control, a Meridian audio system, the Driver Assist Pack, and darkened privacy glass. Each version of the First Edition also gets 20-inch wheels and the gas-powered P400 Ingenium six-cylinder engine. Other trims get the P300 as standard.

The P300 is a mild-hybrid 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder producing 296 horsepower and 347 lb-ft of torque, the latter of which is available from 1,500-4,250 rpm. The P400 engine is also a mild-hybrid turbo-six, but this variant generates 395 hp with 406 lb-ft of torque is available from 2,000-5,000 rpm. So you sacrifice very little in terms of drivability by opting for the more powerful option.

All versions come with a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox sending power to Land Rover's Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system. The P300 allows for the 0-60-mph sprint to be dispensed with in 7.5 seconds while the P400 can manage the run in 6.3 seconds. Towing capacities of up to 8,200 pounds are possible, while the maximum payload is 1,760 lbs.

All variants of the Defender 130 is also equipped with adaptive electronic air suspension, allowing for up to 16.9 inches of articulation, 2.8 inches of additional lift in the front, and 2.9 inches of extra lift in the front. Ground clearance is listed as 11.4 inches while the approach angle is rated at 37.5 degrees and the departure angle is 28.5 degrees. Breakover angle is 27.8 degrees.

As a result, Land Rover says this model can ford depths of up to 35.4 inches. Thanks to an aluminum-rich monocoque, the Defender is "three times more rigid than traditional body-on-frame designs." Its twin-speed transfer box further enhances off-roading ability.

McLaren recently celebrated the Queen's Platinum Jubilee with a unique Artura, and Land Rover is doing something similar, "gifting Her Majesty and the British Red Cross a specially commissioned New Defender 130 to support operations in the UK." Land Rover's engineers will work with the charity, of which the Queen is a patron, to "adapt the Defender 130 before it goes into service later this year, continuing LR's support of the Red Cross which has been ongoing since 1954.

If you don't care about that and just want to get on with specifying your own Defender 130, the configurator is now live, with pricing for the US models starting at $68,000.