Land Rover will expand the Defender lineup next year with the introduction of the extended-wheelbase 130 variant, which has been spotted on the German Nürburgring racetrack, giving a close look at the longer car’s final styling and an indication of its readiness for production. Our photographer actually snapped the V8 variant of the Defender 130—a model that wasn’t on our radar.
A precise launch date for the range-topping Defender has yet to be confirmed, but prior to the standard Defender’s 2019 unveiling, a leaked internal presentation confirmed it will arrive in 2022 with eight seats, one more than the mid-range 110.
It is positioned as the “premium explorer” of the Defender range, while the entry-level 90 is the “halo, image icon,” and the 110 is the “definitive Defender.” The 130 is likely, therefore, to command a substantial price premium over the other Defender models and be available in top-end trim levels only.
While the previous-generation Defender 130 featured an extended wheelbase over the 110, the new car’s longer footprint comes courtesy of a visibly upsized rear overhang, which takes the vehicle’s total length to 5.10 meters—342 mm longer than the 110 and 227 mm longer than the Mercedes G-Class.
The Defender 130 is expected to receive the full raft of diesel and gas powertrains, including the P300e PHEV option and the hot, 550 hp supercharged V8, as seen in these pictures. Also expected is an open-backed pick-up variant to rival the Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok.
Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde