Land Rover - Defender 110

The last major change was the fitting of another diesel engine. The Tdi could no longer meet emissions regulations so in 1998 the Defender was fitted with an all-new 2.5 L, 5-cylinder in-line turbodiesel engine, badged the Td5.

This replaced the Tdi as the only available power unit. The engine used electronic control systems to provide 11 horsepower more than the Tdi, and much improved refinement. Traditionalists were critical of the electronic systems deployed throughout the vehicle, fearing that these would fail when used in extreme conditions.

This was not proved to be the case, but the increased complexity means that repairs and upgrades to the engine have to be done by someone with necessary electronic equipment, which has led home mechanics to prefer to buy second-hand Tdi-powered vehicles. Another new vehicle is the Defender 110 Double Cab, featuring a station wagon style seating area, with an open pick up back.

Although prototypes had been built in the series days, it was not until the late 1990s that this popular and adaptable vehicle got into production. Despite the misgivings by some, others took to the new engine, and sales began to climb as more and more people found that they could use a Defender as their everyday vehicle.

Now, more than ever, there is a strong division in sales pitch between the Station Wagon versions and the commercially-intended Pick-Ups and Van-bodied versions. Modern vehicles can be very luxurious. A new model type, the 'XS' Station Wagon was introduced in 2002 as a top-spec level, while the 'County' package can now be applied to every model in the line-up. XS models come with all 'mod-cons', such as heated windscreen and seats, air conditioning systems, electronic traction control and leather seats.

These are popular with buyers in the UK and other developed countries, who either use the vehicle for on-road duties such as towing or people-moving, or simply as an interesting alternative to an estate car. To such buyers, the fact that the interior will not stand up to the mud and water picked up off-road as well as the plastic, paint and metal trim of the basic versions does not matter.

This does not mean an XS vehicle is not capable - it is just as capable in cross-country duties as a more basic version, and many are used 'recreationally', going off-road at dedicated sites and competitive events at the weekends, and returning to road-use at other times. At the other extreme, 'Basic' models are still popular with farmers, industrial and commercial users, as well as the emergency services.

It finds willing buyers in over 140 countries. Land Rover still provides a staggering range of special conversions such as hydraulic platforms, fire engines, mobile workshops, ambulances, breakdown recovery trucks and 'stretched' versions sometimes reaching as much as 180-inches wheelbase. The Defender is very much an anachronism in today's vehicle marketplace.

It is still largely hand assembled, and unlike most modern cars and trucks, all the major body panels and sub-assemblies simply bolt together. A Defender can literally be broken down to its chassis with simple hand tools - there is no unibody structure. This is actually an advantage when used extensive for off road travel - unibody vehicles can weaken over time, but there are no such stress points on a Defender. This feature allowed Land Rover vehicles to be shipped anywhere in the world as "CKD" sets ("completely knocked down" - crated sets of components for later assembly), but has become a liability because of the high cost of labour in the UK where the vehicles are primarily manufactured today.

Both enthusiasts and commercial users appreciate the bolt-together construction of the vehicle, for it not only means that modifications and accessories are easy to fit, but given some spanners and the correct parts, almost any Series or Defender vehicle can be switched between the various bodystyles with an hour's work or so. Dented or damaged panels can easily be replaced with replacements. It also means that the bodywork of the vehicle gives absolutely no structural strength (it can be completely removed, leaving just the chassis and bulkhead/firewall if needed).

This has its advantages in that modifications, damage or corrosion in the bodywork cannot compromise the vehicle's strength, but also means that the upper bodywork offers little or no protection in the event of the vehicle rolling over. Roll-over cages are popular modifications fitted by many users, and were standard fittment to all NAS Defenders.

M and M 4 wheel drive, Land Rover Parts and Service