New Defender News

[NorthwestDriver]

"300 miles on 100kwh battery" is complete bunk.
Rivian R1S gets 2.0 miles per Kwh and would be an aspiration goal for LR.
The Jaguar i-Pace gets 2.76 miles and that's a much more aerodynamic vehicle.

Totally agree. They’ll need to cram at least 135 kWh battery into this to sniff 300mi EPA. That 300mi range is probably using the WLTP (European) rating which is about 25-30% greater than EPA on the vehicles I’m familiar with. Using WLTP I think 300mi on 100kWh is a stretch, but possible if you round up and get some improved aerodynamics.

 

[naks]

Land Rover Defender Arctic Trucks AT35: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/...usiness-watch-it-tackle-some-snow-207282.html


"...Enter Iceland-based Arctic Trucks, or better said the off-road specialist’s Russian subsidiary. Based on the family-sized 110 with the mild-hybrid sixer under the hood, the AT35 in the featured clip doesn’t break a sweat on snowy trails in sub-zero weather. As implied, the main difference over the standard model comes in the guise of tires. As opposed to 255/50 by 20s (make that 30.1 inches for the outer diameter), the Land Rover Defender Arctic Trucks AT35 flaunts 315/60 by 20s (34.9 inches).

The 12.4-inch-wide tires are complemented by double-spoke wheels finished in dark gray. Arctic Trucks Russia further sweetens the deal with spacers for the front and rear suspension, updated geometry fore and aft, wheel-arch extensions at every corner of the luxury-oriented sport utility vehicle, anti-corrosion coating, branded mudguards, Artic Trucks bodyside decals, a recalibrated speedometer, and a torque wrench.

This fellow also boasts a ground clearance of 360 millimeters (14.1 inches) as opposed to 290 millimeters (11.4 inches) fully stock. In terms of approach and departure angles, the Russian subsidiary lists 39.1 and 40.1 degrees with coil springs or 38 and 40 degrees with air suspension.

Curb weight estimate? That would be anything between 2,541 and 2,598 kilograms (5,602 to 5,728 pounds), and the turning radius is a little worse as well at 7.5 meters (24.6 feet) compared to 6.5 meters (21.3 feet) unmodified. Arctic Trucks Russia didn’t publish any pricing details for the AT35 package, but don’t expect these modifications to come cheap. ..."

 

[DieselRanger]

I just want a PHEV like the 4xe Jeeps, please.

who am I kidding, I can’t afford a new one anyway.

I don't want a PHEV at all.

I want Land Rover to wait to electrify their Discovery and Defender lines until 400 miles of real-world range can be reliably achieved without a Hummer EV sized 9,000-lb vehicle.

 

[charlieaarons]

Land Rover Defender Arctic Trucks AT35: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/...usiness-watch-it-tackle-some-snow-207282.html


"...Enter Iceland-based Arctic Trucks, or better said the off-road specialist’s Russian subsidiary. Based on the family-sized 110 with the mild-hybrid sixer under the hood, the AT35 in the featured clip doesn’t break a sweat on snowy trails in sub-zero weather. As implied, the main difference over the standard model comes in the guise of tires. As opposed to 255/50 by 20s (make that 30.1 inches for the outer diameter), the Land Rover Defender Arctic Trucks AT35 flaunts 315/60 by 20s (34.9 inches).

The 12.4-inch-wide tires are complemented by double-spoke wheels finished in dark gray. Arctic Trucks Russia further sweetens the deal with spacers for the front and rear suspension, updated geometry fore and aft, wheel-arch extensions at every corner of the luxury-oriented sport utility vehicle, anti-corrosion coating, branded mudguards, Artic Trucks bodyside decals, a recalibrated speedometer, and a torque wrench.

This fellow also boasts a ground clearance of 360 millimeters (14.1 inches) as opposed to 290 millimeters (11.4 inches) fully stock. In terms of approach and departure angles, the Russian subsidiary lists 39.1 and 40.1 degrees with coil springs or 38 and 40 degrees with air suspension.

Curb weight estimate? That would be anything between 2,541 and 2,598 kilograms (5,602 to 5,728 pounds), and the turning radius is a little worse as well at 7.5 meters (24.6 feet) compared to 6.5 meters (21.3 feet) unmodified. Arctic Trucks Russia didn’t publish any pricing details for the AT35 package, but don’t expect these modifications to come cheap. ..."

Does the thing have such big brakes that 20” ultra low profile tires are required?
Everyone with offroad experience knows the more sidewall the better. A narrower slightly taller tire with a 16” wheel might give as much or more footprint when partially deflated than a wide 50 series.
My favorite old Defender/Landcruiser tire is 8.25R16. 33.9” tall, 9” width.

 

[DieselRanger]

Does the thing have such big brakes that 20” ultra low profile tires are required?
Everyone with offroad experience knows the more sidewall the better. A narrower slightly taller tire with a 16” wheel might give as much or more footprint when partially deflated than a wide 50 series.
My favorite old Defender/Landcruiser tire is 8.25R16. 33.9” tall, 9” width.

The short answer is, yes, the brakes are large, and the MHEV uses regenerative braking to recharge the battery.

If you get the P300 vs the P400, you can get 18" wheels, and with mods, you can get an 18" wheel on the P400. With 18's you can get a 255/70 on there and pretty much go anywhere you want to.

I currently run 255/60-20 on my Discovery 5 and I've never gotten stuck or suffered for a lack of traction.

While being able to air down to gumwall pressures may help old school off roaders like the old Defender get out of mud, sand, or get over rocks, the new Defender's traction control and diffs mean it's actually extremely capable with 20" wheels and tires, proven time and again in video after video on the Interwebs. The Land Rover Moab guys run stock wheel and tire combos - 20" and street tires - on Poison Spider and Hell's Revenge, and their off-road driving coaches actually don't recommend you air down 20" tires at all.

 

[charlieaarons]

Obviously you shouldn’t air down 20s; there’s only 5” of sidewall and you’d damage the fancy alloy wheels. The examples you gave were rock; essentially like bumpy pavement. For sand and mud one needs a bigger footprint which can only be attained by airing down.
And I remain unimpressed with traction control via ABS firmware and hardware vs. locking differentials of several sorts - from automatic lockers to selectable lockers to viscous going to full lock lockers.
Of course all the latter require operator experience, skill and very importantly something called “mechanical sympathy”.

 

[A.J.M]

And so does the modern land rovers.

you still need experience, skill and mechanical sympathy.

you also need to understand that the TR system isn’t a magic bullet to get you through anything. It can help with making progress but you need to understand how it works and how to get the best from it.

Off roading my Discovery 3 showed that the best way over some obstacles was smooth inputs and a steady throttle at other times.

taking it off road on tracks with my mates in their 90s was interesting as some sections I could slowly crawl through without worrying about getting cross axel’d where they had to be more committed to get past.

simply flooring it and hoping for the best will end badly. Regardless of what age your vehicle is.

 

[DieselRanger]

And so does the modern land rovers.

you still need experience, skill and mechanical sympathy.

you also need to understand that the TR system isn’t a magic bullet to get you through anything. It can help with making progress but you need to understand how it works and how to get the best from it.

Off roading my Discovery 3 showed that the best way over some obstacles was smooth inputs and a steady throttle at other times.

taking it off road on tracks with my mates in their 90s was interesting as some sections I could slowly crawl through without worrying about getting cross axel’d where they had to be more committed to get past.

simply flooring it and hoping for the best will end badly. Regardless of what age your vehicle is.

All true. The morons at TFL Truck proved your last point quite adroitly with their Defender...though I'm convinced they did so for the clicks.

Knowing how your TR system works, which modes to use, when to disable TC / ESP, and yes, when to air down a bit when you have the sidewall to support it, is all still necessary, even with 87 computers figuring out exactly how much lock to dial in to a center diff for you.

"As slow as possible, as fast as necessary."

If you want to do KOH crash n bash rock crawling and mudding, you're not doing it in any kind of stock 4x4...or anything that will be road legal.

 

[DieselRanger]

Obviously you shouldn’t air down 20s; there’s only 5” of sidewall and you’d damage the fancy alloy wheels. The examples you gave were rock; essentially like bumpy pavement. For sand and mud one needs a bigger footprint which can only be attained by airing down.
And I remain unimpressed with traction control via ABS firmware and hardware vs. locking differentials of several sorts - from automatic lockers to selectable lockers to viscous going to full lock lockers.
Of course all the latter require operator experience, skill and very importantly something called “mechanical sympathy”.

I've driven mine in sand, mud, rock, snow, ice, and various combinations - you name it. If you know your rig and know how your gear works in a given situation, you -
1. Won't get yourself into a situation you can't get out of when solo, and
2. You'll know how to get yourself out of such a situation when you inevitably misread conditions, perhaps with a little help from your friends.

 

[naks]

Obviously you shouldn’t air down 20s; there’s only 5” of sidewall and you’d damage the fancy alloy wheels. The examples you gave were rock; essentially like bumpy pavement. For sand and mud one needs a bigger footprint which can only be attained by airing down.
And I remain unimpressed with traction control via ABS firmware and hardware vs. locking differentials of several sorts - from automatic lockers to selectable lockers to viscous going to full lock lockers.Of course all the latter require operator experience, skill and very importantly something called “mechanical sympathy”.

Airing down on 20" is not an issue: I air down my 20" road tyres all the time when going into sand, down to 1.0 bar. And thenI run rings around the old Defenders ?

I don't air down for rocky terrain, because I'm running HTs, but I would if I was running ATs.

Like any tool, you have to learn how to use it properly, as @DieselRanger said.

 

[naks]

this looks the part!

New Defender 3D Sport Winch Bar + Lightbar

New Defender Rhino4x4 3D Sport Front Winch Bar Are you wanting a fantastic looking winch bar for the front of your New Defender, but don't need the full top tube style bull bar and would like more lower protection around the coolers? This 3D Sport Front Winch Bar by Rhino4x4 is the answer...

newdefendermods.com

 

[HUMMER/Expeditions]

@naks
You should go with us to saline valley road in Death Valley ( January 27) and show the rest of the land rovers how to use there 21 inch tires properly, but make sure to bring 3 extra spares for you. ??

 

[plainjaneFJC]

All true. The morons at TFL Truck proved your last point quite adroitly with their Defender...though I'm convinced they did so for the clicks.

Knowing how your TR system works, which modes to use, when to disable TC / ESP, and yes, when to air down a bit when you have the sidewall to support it, is all still necessary, even with 87 computers figuring out exactly how much lock to dial in to a center diff for you.

"As slow as possible, as fast as necessary."

If you want to do KOH crash n bash rock crawling and mudding, you're not doing it in any kind of stock 4x4...or anything that will be road legal.

They aren’t morons- they babied that thing- it just showed the glaring faults of a vehicle that should have performed much better.

 

[DieselRanger]

@naks
You should go with us to saline valley road in Death Valley ( January 27) and show the rest of the land rovers how to use there 21 inch tires properly, but make sure to bring 3 extra spares for you. ??View attachment 760509View attachment 760510

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but anyone who takes any vehicle off road with tires as horrendously worn as those appear to be, has to accept the consequences. Doesn't matter if they're Load Range E M/T's or street tires.

Always check your gear. I've driven that road in a Subaru without issues.

 

[DieselRanger]

They aren’t morons- they babied that thing- it just showed the glaring faults of a vehicle that should have performed much better.

Yeah, you're totally right. I mean, they had posted a video from just a couple weeks earlier where the Defender made a fool out of a Gladiator on far tougher, more rocky terrain, but that got hardly any clicks.

But the video where they line up 3 feet from a square edged rock and floored it, popping the tire, got way more views, and they made way more money off it.

So yeah, you're right, they're not morons - they're geniuses.