Wednesday 18th May 2022

Land Rover confirms Defender 130 launch

The new eight-seat Defender will be with us before the end of May...

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Land Rover has confirmed that it will introduce a new eight-seat Defender later this month, with the launch of the new 130 variant. The long-mooted larger model will join the existing 90, 110 and commercial Hard Top derivatives in the Defender lineup, and offer ‘epic all-terrain adventures for up to eight’ when the order books open on May 31st. 

As various spy images have already shown, the 130’s chief distinguishing feature will be the additional length that allows it to accommodate a third row of seats. Land Rover says the new 2-3-3 configuration will be complemented by the ‘latest digital technologies and advanced integrated chassis technologies’. Expect a carryover of the existing Defender engines. 

The release is accompanied by a single image of the new model scaling a sand dune (the sand conveniently disguising that much more capacious rear-end). The implication, though, is clear: no matter how many more people you’re squeezing into it, Land Rover intends the Defender to remain the world’s preeminent off-roader. 

Fans of the brand will likely recall that the manufacturer has been here before: the many derivatives of the original Land Rover included the 127, a utility model launched in 1985, and specifically built to handle larger payloads thanks to an additional 17 inches of wheelbase grafted into the middle. A dedicated chassis was introduced in 1990 when the car officially became the Defender 130. The new car is widely expected to have earned its extra length thanks to an extended rear overhang rather than a longer wheelbase - but we’ll find out for sure in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned. 

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• 2022 Range Rover (L460) | PH Review
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[mrclav]

Curious to see what it'll look like...

[mikeh501]

Gopping.

[Jim the Sunderer]

Only eight seats?
I thought these were available with three in the front like a Transit.

[redroadster]

Plenty on Rd can't believe there's so many shelling out big money on a giant vitara.

[oldaudi]

Orders open May. Delivery 2026

[Twinair]

They break down, they are not electric, they are not as good as car x, y or z, no one needs an suv, land cruisers come out of the bush - these won’t, bla bla bla…

Just thought I’d get some of that out of the way…

Well done LR, probably not for me - but glad you are doing it :-))

[AJ-T]

Twinair said:

They break down, they are not electric, they are not as good as car x, y or z, no one needs an suv, land cruisers come out of the bush - these won’t, bla bla bla…

Just thought I’d get some of that out of the way…

Well done LR, probably not for me - but glad you are doing it :-))

Haha, brilliant. 😂

[Triumph Man]

I suspect the proportions will probably be better than the 110 as I always thought the lack of rear overhang vs the wheelbase looked odd.

[Mikebentley]

There are plenty of spy shots of 130 in camouflage which give some idea of proportion. I think it will possibly give options for double cab pick ups etc.

[Numeric]

I don’t have the money but if I did I would really like one. They have a real presence in my mind especially in dark colours - but they are one heck of a price.

Of course I’m an armchair warrior - I used land rovers properly decades ago and they were horrid I thought - these though I think are super!

(Of course I also want a Unimog so I’m clearly very odd)

[NDT]

And that is the end of the Discovery.

[Sisu9]

Will make an epic camper.

[Crumpet]

NDT said:

And that is the end of the Discovery.

It’s definitely a small niche that it’s filling once this launches. You basically get a more luxurious interior with worse residuals. I think you’re right.

[Macboy]

No coincidence that the pre-launch announcement happens on the day INEOS make a song and dance about Grenadier orders being officially open. Combined with the Defender heritage display doing the rounds at outdoor shows, Land Rover looks to be directly targeting the retro-pretender by the look of it. If you could actually get a Defender the Grenadier order bank would definitely be depleted.

The 130 is another model that expands the Defender customer base while, unitentionally, reinforcing just how niche the 5-seat Grenadier actually is for most buyers.

[lrdisco]

Crumpet said:

It’s definitely a small niche that it’s filling once this launches. You basically get a more luxurious interior with worse residuals. I think you’re right.

Yes I have to agree. Loved the Discovery 4 we had but really dislike the 5.
This though would be very welcome in my garage.

[GianiCakes]

Ordered my 110 last August and, if I’m lucky, it’ll arrive this October. Good there’s a new model though 😒

[anonymous-user]

In before 300 whining that it's not a proper Defender.

[Mikebentley]

GianiCakes said:

Ordered my 110 last August and, if I’m lucky, it’ll arrive this October. Good there’s a new model though ??

Ordered mine November and just told I’ll get it in June.

[Griffithy]

8 Seats

Laughable,
my classic Defender 130 seats 14

[anonymous-user]

Griffithy said:

8 Seats

Laughable,
my classic Defender 130 seats 14

You know you can legally use bus lanes in that... always fun seeing bus drivers getting angry because they don't know the law around them