Land Rover Defender new generation L663, which appeared in September 2019, is criticized by many for being “glamorous” and departing from the concept of maximum simplicity and utility that its predecessors were famous for. Because of this, Def may lose its traditional audience - Jaguar Land Rover itself is aware of the risk, so it is preparing another SUV - as simplified and cheaper as possible.
The upcoming model will be positioned as the youngest in the Land Rover product line. In fact, its development started a few years ago, but in 2017, due to Brexit, the topic was suspended. But now we have decided to restart.
According to the British edition of Autocar, citing its sources in JLR, the project was assigned its own index L860. In its native British market, the novelty will cost less than 25,000 pounds (= 2,096,000 rubles), that is, 38% cheaper than the most affordable new Defender (from 40,290 pounds).
The L860 is based on the Omega-Arc D10 platform developed by parent company Tata Motors (which has owned JLR since 2008). The Omega-Arc D10 is used in the low-cost Tata Harrier SUV (in production since 2019) and, in turn, is a modified version of the old Land Rover D8 chassis that underpinned the first Range Rover Evoque and Discovery Sport. The Omega-Arc D10 uses stamped steel, unlike the new Defender's chassis, which uses mostly aluminum.
At the rear, the L860 will have a continuous axle and, as a result, a dependent suspension. The new Defender, we recall, uses an expensive "multi-link" at the back. The car will also use a completely original front subframe, which will have nothing to do with the Tata Harrier subframe.
It is not yet known under what name the L860 will enter the market. The car probably won't belong to the current Defender family as JLR doesn't want to dilute its luxury positioning. It is possible that the L860 will receive the trade name Land Rover 80 - that was the name of the original first-generation Defender, which appeared in 1948. The exterior of the car will also refer to a classic SUV, but the interior will be unified with many details with a modern Defender, adjusted for cheaper finishing materials.
The prospective L860 will be roughly comparable in size to the new Defender.
In order to maximize fuel economy and minimize emissions, the SUV will be equipped with a new 1.5-liter three-cylinder Ingenium engine, whose turbocharged version reaches 200 hp. The Defender L860 will be assembled at the Jaguar Land Rover plant in Slovakia.
Land Rover is working on a new cheap and simple SUV
