2007 Land Rover Defender
October 4, 2007 by George Skentzos
Land Rover have introduced the 2007 model Defender – a completely uncompromising off-road vehicle with a strong 59-year history as part of the armed-forces and other NGOs in over 100 countries.
With increased ability both on and off road, the new Defender boasts increased comfort, performance and refinement.
“Defender’s timeless exterior has become synonymous with functional design. Every line and surface seems to be linked to the vehicle’s extraordinary capability, so we deliberately changed very little.” Dave Saddington, Defender chief Designer.
The Defender’s class-leading blend of towing and load-carrying versatility, alongside the vehicle’s extraordinary strength, robustness and capability have helped to develop its exceptionally high standards of customer loyalty.
With roots dating back to 1948, the Defender has sold nearly 1.9 million units. Strong customer loyalty is backed by its class-leading blend of towing and load-carrying ability coupled with the Defender’s extraordinary strength, robustness and capabilities.
A new 2.4-Litre turbo diesel provides improvements in both drivability and refinement. Torque output is higher than the previous model, with 360Nm peak available at only 2,000rpm, with 315Nm available throughout most of the rev-range.
The Defender also features a new anti-stall system which anticipates the driver’s likely reactions by intelligently adjusting the engine systems to prevent stall
The engine’s lubrication and sealing systems have been specially developed to cope with Defender’s onerous range of operating angles.
A new six-speed manual transmission provides a much wider ratio spread than before, with a much lower first gear ratio for tackling rough terrain, and a new sixth gear to be set 20 per cent higher than the outgoing model’s top gear to improve real-world cruising refinement and fuel economy.
In European markets, the Defender naturally adheres to EU4 emissions legislation, but as a global vehicle, a unique engine tune has also been developed to tolerate variable quality, high-sulphur fuels.
Whilst the exterior may remain true to its heritage, the interior has been revamped to provide all the modern creature comforts whilst still maintaining practicality.
The dash features all-LED instrument illumination, new passenger-side grab handles for two-handed support in rough terrain and versatile stowage shelves. Whilst for the first time, the in-car entertainment system features high-mounted tweeters for improved clarity and sound production.
Drawing back to the subtle practical improvements which have made this car so successful, a revised heater system warms the cabin 40 per cent quicker than before and can achieve cabin temperatures a full 12°C higher. The air-conditioning system can cool the cabin in half the time of the old unit, and achieve cabin temperatures 7°C lower too.
With such practical-minded design, and a strong 59 year reputation as one of the most robust and capable vehicles in any condition, the Defender is a rare breed of vehicle you would trust with your life.
Pricing
Defender 110 Station Wagon $48,990
Defender 130 Crew Cab Chassis $50,990
Options
Metallic Paint $900
7 Seats (110 model only) $2,000
Print it: 
Simlar looks to the old seriesII Land Rover!!
Verry good, the old disin dosen’t date.
Tractors will be tractors
$50k for that HOS, they are on drugs!
Least now it can have pasted on the windscreen….
“Powered by Ford”
Yes Virginia, its a Transit donk under the bonnet, enjoy you $3500 clutch jobs!!! LOL
GOB BLESS TOYOTA
Cheers
F-0
frugal one, you’re an idiot. If you’ve done any really serious 4WD’ing you’ll realise that the defender is the ultimate in ruggedness. Sure it doesn’t look great, but it’ll survive driving tortures that would leave other 4wd’s for dead.
Its worth $50k because the car will still be working 25 yrs from now. 25 punishing years as well.
Yes Tom agree, my other half used to do 4WD tours up Cairns way for yonks and she said the quality in the Defender was rattle prone heaps and poorly put together as too utilitarian. Her words were “Amazing 4WD and ultra reliable, but do not look anywhere other then out glass as rough as guts quality that makes Indian or Korean quality HUGE LIGHT YEARS AHEAD. She also said that one must wear hearing protection or listen to heavy rock music on the radio loudly as the rattles are everywhere!
I’d like to see a hill climb face off between the Defender and the H3 – similar price too I bet.
And Aluminium Bodywork…priceless!
Rust killed my Cruiser. However it was reliable despite the schizo electrics.
A friend’s company broke their defenders on the rail lines… literally! That said, I have talked to miners who are busting the front ends of Troopies regularly.
My grandad and his fishing mates had a Landrover that they left on the north side of the Noosa river, to be started and taken up to Double Island in the 1950’s.
Childhood memories of my Great Uncle’s Landrover, grass growing through its motor, long after he stopped driving, and grew beans and tobacco and had a truly magnificent ‘retirement’ in paradisical Queensland, long before it was developed.
Would I? Ummmm, a restored SIIA/SIII as a surf vehicle for beach work, maybe! Last a lifetime, if cared for after said surfing! Simple electrics. Oh, and you can run agriculatural equipment off the old ones! And manually crank. And use battery to crank out of bogs. And cook sausages on the detachable metal grille of a Series II!
THAT, is a 4wd!
GOB BLESS TOYOTA, six feet under, Land rover sets the benchmark, the rest can only follow and copy, but all ways a few steps behind.
I so want one of these babies. When I think of serious 4wding this is it. I’ve only ever driven a defender a few times but they are the bees knees for outback travel. I’m not sure whether to buy a new model or a 2nd hand one and then buy a cheap small car for daily travel but Either way an old or new defender I won’t be dissatisfied.
I had 11 mostly happy years with and Isuzu engined Land Rover 110 County (Defender). I still have a soft spot for them and still love the timeless unpretentious looks. I know it’s not fashionable among he-men offroaders, but I demand ABS, airbags and cruise control in the modern world. I’ve also seen some scary photos of what those skinny A-pillars do in rollovers. Still not sure I trust Land Rover electrickery, and the County didn’t have any.
I upgraded the Defender to a current model Prado. Nowhere near the space or character or off-the-shelf off-road ability, and way harder riding than the magic carpet County. If the Defender had airbags, I’d be mighty tempted.
I bought a Defender Crewcab 130 6 months ago. Wrapped. It gets better fuel economy round town than a brand new Hynundi Getz!! 9.8l/100km from a 4WD bigger than anything frmo Japan, I hired a 3,600km old Hyundi Gets 3 weeks ago on a trip & it returned 11.7l/100km. GO figure!
I went diesel becuase I want to contribute to cleaner motoring – biodiesel is next. I traded by FJ80 (Landcruiser GXL wagon) on the Defender 130. I still have a Landcruiser FJ75 ute 4WD and have had many many many other 4WD’s over the last 27+ years all over Australain including the Top-End where everyone has to drive a 4WD.
The Defender is a mighty fine 4WD. It is a little more uncomfortable and truck like to drive than Toyotas, but then the Defender is a small truck, the Toyotas are not.
If you want a 4WD to last you a lifetime – get a Defender.
If you want a 4WD to rely on – get a Defender.
If you want awesome 4WD ability – get a defender.
If you want 3.5 one towing capacity and 1.5 tone load capacity – get a Defender.
If you want to pose round town – get something else.
Enjoy your 4WD’ing, enjoy it more with a Defender!
Well, I love my latest model Defender. IT kicks ass even whilst stock condition off road. Many times more comfortable on road and I disagree that it does not look good, I think it is a work of art and not a modern one where anything goes. It does what it was built for better then anything else.
Check out the 60th Anniversary SVX that’ll be hitting our shores next year.
Awesome!
Having driven Land Rovers, Landcruisers, one Patrol and one Hilux over north Queensland, mainly Cape York but also the Gulf and far west for work (Ranger and Bush Guide Business) over 30 years has given a fair insight into strengths and weaknesses.
Land Cruisers are great alround vehicles, but very much overrrated. Likewise Landies must be the most underrrated vehicles aound, and have copped a fair flogging from many journalists to whom looks and popular appeal matters more than function and performance.
Have had two 110 Landy Counties. The V8 was used for running Cape York Bush Expeditions. Despite being thirsty it did 340,000 kms with engine, transmission, diffs etc, and even all wheel bearings still original.
The 3.9 Isuzu County copped even more of a flogging and is still going strong after 400,000km.
It’s most amazing feat was towing the dead Cruiser Ute – 55,000km with broken mainshaft in the gearbox, over and through Cockatoo Creek on Cape York’s Telegraph Track – a crossing which often stops many able four wheel drives, let alone one towing a dead vehicle.
The new Landy appears to have met most of the earlier criticisms, it’s still economical, class leading capable, a great load carrier, and you don’t have to replace the springs soon after purchase like a Cruiser.
And, it actually has character
Yes, I’ll be getting one, as soon as the 1988 model 110 is worn out! No, probably can’t wait that long.
Love my 1997 tdi Defender. It is UNSTOPABLE in the rugged outback. How many Cruzers have I pulled out the beach? (heaps). It will see my life out – I’m only 42!!
I have always thought the Defender looked very good for a 4×4, but the latest models even look better than before. The bonus is you are also getting a very solid & reliable 4×4 which should last a long time !