The Land Rover Defender family will soon grow to include a longer 130 model with up to eight seats.
Patent images shared by various European outlets including Motor.es have given us a clearer look at the stretched Defender.
The Defender 130 features a longer rear overhang for improved third-row and cargo space.
The side treatment is similar to that of the 110, with a square of body-colour sheetmetal set within an expansive glass area.
From both directly in front and behind, the 130 is virtually indistinguishable from the 110.
The Defender 130 is expected to debut in 2022, and earlier reports indicate it may be available only in higher-end trims albeit with a similarly wide range of powertrains to the 90 and 110.
Plans for this higher number Defender were leaked ahead of the line’s launch in 2019, with a presentation slide revealing the 130’s profile.
The 130 will use the same 3022mm wheelbase as the 110, though the total length will be extended from 4758mm to 5100mm. Those measurements exclude the external spare.
For comparison, a Range Rover Sport measures 4879mm long, a Nissan Patrol is 5175mm long, the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L will measure 5204mm and the Toyota LandCruiser 300 Series is 4980-5015mm long, depending on variant.
The longer rear will provide more room for third row occupants. The 110 currently offers an optional third row of seating though it isn’t as spacious as that of a Discovery.
Chief financial officer Adrian Mardell said on a call with investors earlier this year that the 130 will boost Defender sales in markets such as North America, China and the Middle East.
It isn’t expected to be the last Defender derivative, with a ute mooted and Autocar reporting Land Rover could introduce a luxury version using the Range Rover’s MLA platform.
The Defender 130 will give the Discovery even more internal competition.
Defender 110
Jaguar Land Rover Australia said in July the Discovery isn’t being cannibalised, particularly now that it’s been repositioned with higher levels of standard equipment and a base price above $100,000.
However, the Defender 130 is expected to attract a premium over the 110, which could push it directly into the Discovery’s price range.
To the end of September 2021, Land Rover has sold 474 Discovery SUVs – down 24.2 per cent – but 1495 Defenders, though this figure also includes the 90 ‘shorty’.
The Defender 110 range currently starts at $76,836 before on-road costs for the P300, topping out at $215,676 list for the P525 V8.
MORE: Everything Land Rover Defender
