Test Drive Land Rover Defender 110 since 2007 SUV

All photos of Land Rover Defender 110 since 2007

King of nature

Land Rover Defender A long-liver of the automotive world. His story began almost 60 years ago, in the distant 1948. What caused such steady popularity all these years? To find out this, we conducted a test drive of the updated model of 2007. And chose for this the most extreme-utilitarian short-pass version.

No matter how cool, not in vain they say there is no loud without good. And our hero is a bright example. After all, its birth is legendary Land Rover owes World War II, namely the post-war position in the UK. After the war, Rover has a problem: the destroyed production was transferred from Coventry to the aviation plant in Solihall, who had huge capacities. But to download them only by those passenger models that were produced at that time were not possible. It was necessary for something new.

Brothers Maurice and Spencer Wilx, who stood at the time at the head of the Board of Directors of Rover, were offered a certain utilitarian all-wheel drive vehicle with a cheap and simple design, which requires a minimum of sheet steel for manufacture (as opposed to aluminum, steel was in shortage). According to the legend, the brothers reasoned about the fate of Jeep Willys, at which the eldest worked in his estate on the island of Enlcy. What will happen when he will finally fall apart? He asked Spencer. Buy the same, answered Maurice.

It is believed that at that moment they came to mind the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating the fact that later became the first Land Rover. The body was decided to make from aluminum, lung and resistant to corrosion material, which after the war was in excess. Savings played a big role and when designing chassis. Its elements were decided not to stamp, but cook from steel strips. The resulting spars and the crossbars were then welded into a single frame of the flight type, which became the hallmark of the Land Rover SUV for many long years.

Until the end of 1948, a test series of 48 copies with motors, gearboxes and upgraded bridges from Rover models was released. And on April 30, 1948, Land Rover submitted to the public at the Amsterdam Motor Show. It was an open car with flat panels of the body, only with the front side of the seats and to pain acquired narrowly planted headlights on the radiator lattice (version with the all-metal Body Station Wagon appeared only in 1951, and the name Defender after 1990). Real, uncompromising all-wheel drive work! Such a defense remains to this day. Having live such a long life, has undergone a number of modernization, but it must be noted, not changing a strongly, it is still in the ranks and is still in demand. And the figure is almost 2 million buyers about it eloquently says!

Today's Defender 2007 model year is the last in the history of Land Rover. They say that another model will come to replace him. Fans are grieved, and harmoniously. And together with them, farmers, employees of utilities, various non-governmental organizations (UN, red cross, etc.) and armed forces of a number of states. This is not surprising, because the incredible passability and the unhappiness of the car go legends.

We still try to figure out what appeared in this generation Defender compared to the past, which was made without serious changes from 1990 to 2006. And did not he lose his famous qualities? Land Rover is visible from afar. Still, almost 2 meters tall! And such flat-cubic forms in the automotive world today do not find. I go to the car, holding a key of a simple plastic in hand with the same key chain of the central locking control. In the soul, some kind of thrill. Still, Defender is the strongest charisma! He seemed to all their appearance: I am a story! I can do everything! Man!

I try to find at least some external differences from the previous one. Long exquisition lead me to the inscription

Land Rover on a swollen hood, to a slightly modified radiator lattice and the lack of windows for ventilation under the windshield. Conservatism is one of the characteristic features of the def. Let's see what inside. I open a thin and absolutely flat door and with the help of a footboard with difficulty climbing the seat of the seat. Immediately I immediately notice a new fear instead of benches appeared two full chairs. The passage is unique through the back door, for which a special footboard is provided.

Sitting has to be in a trip, because the wheeled arches are under them. But they can be deftly folded by increasing the luggage compartment. Front chairs are new, heated. Fixed, as before, on high angular podiums. Their profile is not bad, but no more. Adjustments are only two, besides the ranges are clearly not enough with growth above 180 cm. But the whole thing is that the seats simply rest in the steel pipe across the cabin, very similar to the safety frame. The steering column is not regulated at all, and the pedal node is strongly shifted to the left, the clutch pedal is located at the wall itself. It is not enough that the places are catastrophically lacking, so there are also the legs to be flexing in a way to get to the necessary pedals.

Sitting, bent into three deaths. To the left hand is nowhere to do, literally pin the door. You can remember that there is a jeeper version of the elbow in the window, and at the same time, slightly hanging his head, observe both the wheels of the car, and behind the extreme overall dots on one side. To overcome the obstacles, it is very convenient, I do not argue, I myself was convinced later, but you will not train on cold weather with an open window. With the closed, you have to use a fully new system of heating and air conditioning (therefore, it turns out, the famous slots under windscreen disappeared).

The air conditioner was never useful in November, but the stove ... This is the one else! Fan Even at the first speed fills the salon with a serious noise. It is impossible to achieve optimal temperature or cold, or hot. Those who traveled on various cars of the native car industry, such as classics, will understand me well. Defender At the same time, in the right side of the cabin, the blurred is significantly colder than in the driver. And in general, to warm up the insides, it takes time.

It is not surprising that the sound and thermal insulation aluminum body is still practically deprived. Bare better on the go. At idle, the motor temperature drops, and the heating intensity is reduced with it. Live car! Real! Yes, God with him with comfort, it's time to understand why people buy this damn an \u200b\u200buncomfortable car? Manually adjusting the mirror, with difficulty trying the hand with the key in the slot between the wheel, the door and a steeot lever of the light on (ignition lock on the left, the car is originally right-handed), pull the floor handbrake, I put the long lever of the gearbox in neutral and finally, I start motor.

By the way, new. 2,4-liter, 122-strong Turbodiesel Common Rail for nothing, which is placed on Ford Transit, in response to a turn of the key wakes up with a truck sound. Especially when cold start. Vibrations are generously transmitted to the body, the steering wheel, the lever of the gearbox and distribution. For a long time heating the engine. Well, the arrow of the temperature sensor barely laughed, the pairs of the mouth almost never goes, it's time to trim down. I squeeze heavy clutch, sticking the first transmission again the new reinforced 6-speed gearbox, add gas. Defender ripples ripples, but this residence is imaginary. It is due to the very short first step. Jerk, and it's time to turn on the second. So I continue to swing the muscles of the left leg with the clutch, and the right hand to find transmission to the checkpoint.

This, I will tell you, work. Distroctions are not on the shoulder. According to Moscow traffic jams. Already later, hung up, I realized that it was necessary to trim from the second (first exclusively for severe off-road or in the case of a trailer tow), and then you can turn on the fourth immediately, or even the fifth. The traveler (360 nm) and the elastic diesel will calmly digest, and on the dynamics it almost does not affect.

Dynamics Defender does not shine. It accelerates slowly, with the advantage of the English aristocrat. If you try, you can pick it up, eternity, and up to 140 km / h under the slide, but why? Bridges, rubber with profile 85, high mass center and worm steering wheel not the best seasonings for quick ride. The car goat on irregularities, swims on a straight line. At the same time, the motor displeasantly yells, from everywhere the sound of the wind, the stove WORLD, the suspension rumbles. The sound system can offer only a laundry sound, and unable to shout out this cavothy. Deciding to slow down, you once again feel like a man.

Effort on cargo pedals, is there a vacuum in general? The slowdown, despite the disc brakes in a circle, leaves much to be desired, 2-ton Mahina is growing even more, the ram has to squeeze hard. This is some kind of gym on wheels! You ask: Well, what's the joke? What is this clumsy slow downhill? To find out this we went to the off-road landfill Land Rover Experience, and then on one of the military polygons of the Taman Division in the Moscow region.

Off-road and not parquet, like the road to cottages, and the present, seemingly impassable, off-road. That's where Defender manifests itself in all its glory! This is where it demonstrates its most extreme qualities, reliability, indeliability, chain and amazing stability.

Simple, but tough design, invented by the Wilxes brothers in 1948, remains unsurpassed so far. Short Saves and base, powerful frame, huge cross-strokes and, of course, a permanent four-wheel drive insane off-road cocktail. All vital aggregates are well stubborn.

The bottom points of the bridges, the steps and frame, it is not scary. What makes Land Rover in those places where even walking to move problematic, it is necessary to see. Do not even see, but feel. Sitting in the cockpit on a monstrous longitudinal slope, my unprepared vestibular apparatus categorically refused to adequately perceive what is happening. The brain said that it was impossible, the car had to turn over the car for a long time, but he only continued to move forward. On the terrible Ughab of the Polygon, alternating sometimes in a chess order, Defender demonstrated a huge angle of crossing the axes.

It is very difficult to post it diagonally, some of the axes may be hooked. Sometimes the front wheel hung up in the air in the height of the meter above the ground. No problem. Turn on the mid-scene blocking, and forward. Yes, and the Traction Control will force, if that. The angle of entry and the congress (47) is almost equal to the maximum rise in lift (45). What does it mean? And the fact that if, running up to the slope, you did not rest in it with a bumper, you can climb him. Provided, of course, that the grip will be sufficient. Do you imagine what it is to rise in a 45-degree mountain? From the cabin it looks like you climb on a sheer wall.

The same applies to the congresses as if you fall into the abyss! Very sharp sensations, not for nervous. The passenger was always sitting on me with a stone face, clinging to everything you can. But after overcoming the next obstacle, an idiotic smile appeared on his face, he walked an obstacle on foot, and in his eyes he could have read: it is impossible! By the way, all this Defender did on the usual high row of the CAT. Low for some reason turned on badly, it was constantly knocked out. However, it is difficult to even imagine those places in which the downgrain would need!

Of course, Land Rover Defender ideally should not be the only car in the family. Even, perhaps, not the second, but the third. A kind of toy. But toy for adults, for men. Defender car for severe spirit. For those who are willing to sacrifice comfort, dynamics and handling in favor of stunning off-road qualities. For jeepers first. For those who love hunting and fishing. For those who have to operate a car in difficult conditions, for example for farmers. For those who just like to climb the machine knows where. Tightens it, you know, feel the king of nature by car.

Prices and equipment

In addition to the short-pass modification of 90 SW, two long-base 110 SW and 110 CREW CAB PICK UP are also available. In the database, they are equipped with only necessary: \u200b\u200bconstant full-wheel drive, distribution with inter-axis differential blocking, GUR and safety belts. Optionally possible mechanical hatch, ABS + anti-duct system ETC, air conditioning, hitch, radio, alloy wheels with grabber tires, heated front seats and windshield, front electric windows, glasses toning and CH. Prices from 820,000 rubles for Land Rover Defender 90SW TD5 Base up to 1,020,000 rubles for version110SW TD5 CREW CAB PICK UP SE.

Dmitry Krotov