Extra-long 2022 Land Rover Defender 130 spied
More room for people and gear in Land Rover's latest off-roader. It's expected to launch next year.
An extra-long Land Rover Defender ‘130’ seven-seater has been spied testing on public roads, confirming that another variant of Land Rover’s off-roader is getting closer to being officially revealed
These images – published by Autoblog – show a camouflage-clad Defender that has clearly grown in its rear end, with Land Rover's new seven-seat four-wheel drive to gain a longer rear overhang.
Previous reports have indicated that the Defender 130 will gain around 350mm of length over the Defender 110, but will sit on the same 3022mm wheelbase.
While the additional rear overhang will be a hindrance off-road due to the reduced departure angle, the extra interior space will turn the Defender 130 into a proper seven-seat SUV, along with creating a larger boot.
Once upon a time, Defender model names related closely to wheelbase lengths in old-fashioned inches.
For example, a short-wheelbase Defender 90 had around 92 inches (2360mm) between its front and rear wheels, while the 110 hit its claim bang-on, at 110 inches (2794mm).
The 130 was slightly overstated, with 127 inches (3226mm) for Land Rover’s longest-wheelbase Defender.
However, these names carry over in a more inconsequential manner for the new Defender. The incoming short-wheelbase Defender 90 will have a 101.85-inch (2587mm) wheelbase, and the Defender 110 sits on a 119-inch (3022mm) footprint.
Perhaps most controversially, the Defender 130 will keep the same wheelbase as the current 110, but will gain additional rear overhang to accommodate a more spacious third row.
The Defender 110 has a body that is 4760mm long excluding the rear-mounted spare wheel, or 5019mm including it.
While the Defender 110 is currently available with a third row within its circa-five-metre length, it has been found to be lacking in legroom for anything larger than small children, and doesn't offer the space to compete with larger, true seven-seaters.
That means the Defender 130 could be in the region of 5370mm long, from nose to spare wheel.
Land Rover’s Discovery is also available as a seven-seat SUV, as well as the smaller Discovery Sport.
Above and below: The current Land Rover Defender 110.
Land Rover Australia has previously declined to comment on the status of new and incoming models. However, the local arm has previously told CarAdvice it “would be interested in gauging the local appeal if such a model was to become available.”
While earlier reports have indicated that the Defender 130 could land in Australian showrooms as early as mid-2022, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has caused chaos for the global automotive industry.
Land Rover has delayed the rollout and production of 2021 Defender models in Australia, and the pandemic will no doubt have an impact on future models like the Defender 130 as well.
MORE: 2020 Land Rover Defender off-road review (video)
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