Built to Withstand



Defender 90 was designed and built for severe duty right from day one, a fact that separates it from ordinary sport-utility vehicles. And this same strength and capability in the extreme also allow it to perform nobly and dependably under ordinary hard use.

It could be argued that Defender 90 is actually over-engineered for the tasks most people will put it to. Drivetrain durability tests at the factory routinely subject chassis components such as the automatic transmission, two-speed transfer case, universal joints, driveshafts and axles to stresses that far exceed the abuses meted out by Land Rover customers.

Defender

Defender's ruggedness is further enhanced by the addition of a new 4.0-liter aluminum alloy V-8 engine with higher torque at lower rpm and, for the first time, a standard four-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel disc brakes are also standard. These, along with Defender's permanent four-wheel drive and locking center differential, make for a combination that is notably docile to drive and highly tractable off-road or on.

There's also an absorbent, long-travel coil spring suspension, which provides a full 9 inches of ground clearance and as much as 11 inches of suspension travel. As a result, Defender possesses unsurpassed ride composure over rough terrain. And, with equal ease, it can climb 45-degree grades and haul more than a ton of payload. That's why a receiver for a Class III towing hitch is built into the frame.

Defender's purpose-built construction is much like money in the bank -- even though you may not need it every day, it's certainly good to know it's there.