NEWS
Land Rover Defender to roll on HiLux wheels
Manufacturer locks in styling, confirms production start for new Defender mid-2016The 2016 Land Rover Defender may share tyre sizes and wheel PCD (pitch circle diameter) with Toyota's HiLux, according to a new report by respected British magazine Autocar.
It's a sign of the times, if true. Toyota, with HiLux and LandCruiser, has made massive inroads into Land Rover's traditional off-road markets in recent years. Rumours suggest Land Rover plans to take back some of that lost ground by offering some parts interchangeable with the two Toyota off-roaders.
The new Defender will make a complete break with the current model, which can trace its roots back to 1948. For the 2016 Defender, Land Rover will specify four-cylinder 'Ingenium' engines in petrol or diesel configuration, but will also offer buyers a V6 petrol engine option.
As we speculated nearly 18 months ago, the Defender will adopt the new aluminium construction method developed for the current L405 Range Rover and L494 Range Rover Sport, and will be likely built at Solihull. But there's a twist, according to Autocar.
The new Defender will also feature "a substantial aluminium superstructure" as it is described in the report. In effect, this is a lighter version of the steel chassis hybrid construction already developed for the current Discovery – a steel monocoque body perched on a steel chassis for added strength.
In the case of the Discovery that extra durability came at the cost of weight and fuel efficiency. Moving to all-aluminium construction – with a bonded and riveted monocoque on an aluminium chassis – ensures the new Defender will be a lot lighter than the current Discovery and a lot safer than the current Defender. As an aside, the magazine reported an admission from Land Rover Group Marketing Director Phil Popham that the next-generation Discovery would also be built on the same production line as Range Rover and Range Rover Sport, which means in effect the new Discovery will also be a very aluminium-intensive construction.
Safety and efficiency were two reasons for the development of an all-new Defender. At no stage did Land Rover consider ending the Defender as a model within the broader product range, but the company was aware that a future Defender could not continue to be as unsafe, as inefficient and as labour-intensive to build... no matter how iconic.
The new construction method would be relatively expensive, but would allow different variants (including long-wheelbase commercials) to be built on the same production line. But for that to happen, Land Rover would have to be satisfied there would be a stronger global market for Defender than is currently the case.
Styling for the new Defender is believed to have been given the go-ahead during the northern hemisphere summer just gone – our winter – which leads Autocar to the view the Defender will not enter production until the same time of year in 2016... not quite two years from now. A preview of the new Defender thus looks likely for the Geneva motor show in 2016, with the production car's debut possible for Paris later the same year.
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Written byCarsales Staff
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
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