You could make the argument that people these days are too impatient. The new 2020 Land Rover Defender, one of the most highly anticipated vehicle releases this year, is set to be unveiled later this week (as early as Tuesday), but for some reason leaked photos have surfaced mere days before. Can’t people just wait a day or two?
On the other hand, those of us in the U.S. haven’t had access to official North American Defender models since 1997 — so we’ve waited long enough.
The leaked images, first pointed out in Jalopnik, come via the Instagram account @soflorovers. According to the post below, the images are pages from SA4x4, an overlanding magazine out of South Africa. Of course, as with all leaked images in the leadup to a major vehicle unveiling, these haven’t been confirmed, but we’d bet they’re legitimate.
While Land Rover has shown plenty of camouflaged models in the months leading up to the unveiling, this is the first time we’ve seen the reimagined Defender in its bare, albeit pixelated, birthday suit. But we’ve also got plenty of text if you’re willing to zoom in and try and make out the details.
Thankfully, Jalopnik already did that, and here are a couple takeaways:
- The launch models will include a three-door “90” and a five-door “110” just like the original Defender (in U.S. speak, that’s two-door and four-door).
- The off-road capabilities will be enticing for anyone interested in doing more than grocery hauling. The leaks put ground clearance at 11.45 inches, fording depth at 35.43 inches, “and approach, break-over, and departure angles of 38 degrees, 28 degrees and 40 degrees respectively.”
- While the 90 looks much smaller in the photos, thanks to a jumpseat even that model will seat up to six people.
Again, none of these details have been confirmed by Land Rover. But once they unveil the 2020 Defender later this week, expect these details to match up.
[Update: The Defender is here. Take a look at the official specs and photos.]
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