The world collectively groaned when Land Rover decided to retire the long-running Defender in 2016. With roots tracing back to 1948’s Land Rover Series, the Defender can be considered to be the model that made Land Rover what it is today. That’s why when the new Defender debuted in 2019 it was met with much anticipation. Of course, it had to comply with modern crash regulations, as well as offer some degree of modern luxury and comfort, while retaining the tough, go-anywhere ethos of the original. With this 2023 Land Rover Defender 90 Carpathian Edition that we have on sale, we think you’ll find that Land Rover’s done a fine job. Bearing just 150 miles, this is as brand-new as you can expect.
The design team at Land Rover, headed by Gerry McGovern had a tough task; how do you make a modern iteration of a classic with lines first designed in the 1940s? Here’s the result as modeled by this 2023 Land Rover Defender 90 Carpathian Edition in a Carpathian Gray paint job. It’s squat stance and dark mien is further accentuated by 22-inch blacked alloys with the DEFENDER script, wrapped in Continental CrossContact rubber. At the rear, clear tail lamps are designed in a homage to the original’s simple circular units, and quad exhausts tell you that there’s a stonking powerplant beneath the hood. Climb aboard and enter the Vintage Tan Windsor and Ebony interior, and it’s clear that this is miles apart from the spartan cabin of the original. It feels like any modern Land Rover, with multifunction steering wheel, electric front seats, dual-zone climate control, touchscreen infotainment system, Meridian sound system and digital instrument cluster. Added toys include the Basic Rear Seat Entertainment pack, Emergency pack and Premium Interior Protection and Storage pack.
Defenders of yore used to pack sturdy turbodiesel engines that produced modest power and torque, but made up for it with longevity. This 2023 Land Rover Defender 90 Carpathian Edition takes Land Rover’s most potent 5.0L supercharged V8 and stuffs it under the hood. With 518hp and 461lb-ft sent to all four wheels via a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission, you’re going to sixty from rest in under six seconds. A two-speed transfer case, locking rear and center differentials, and the usual suite of Land Rover off-road modes ensure that capability in the rough hasn’t been compromised.
The Land Rover Defender is one of the strangest cars in the automotive world, at least the older models are. They aren’t the most enjoyable to drive or the most comfortable carrier for passengers. Yet they are absolutely adored all around the world for their undeniable British character. The Defender is as British as warm beer, good tea, and bad teeth. Not to mention, they are mighty good off-roaders as well. What you’ll often find in the market or on roads is the Defender 110, rendering the short-wheelbase Defender 90 quite rare to come by. This 2000 Land Rover Defender 90 found its way to our inventory from St. Cloud, Florida. Having driven over 119000, this example remains well-maintained and boasts a re-upholstered interior.
Land Rover’s Defender is one of those all-time greats in off-roading nameplates. Derived from 1948’s Land Rover Series I, the Defender name came around 1990, and by then, it had evolved massively from the Series, despite a very similar exterior outlook. Furthermore, while the 110 is the most common type to find these days, there’s a certain sort of charm about the short wheelbase, two-door 90. This 1990 Land Rover Defender 90 definitely portrays that charm, with its extensive do-over that includes a repaint to factory spec and an aftermarket exhaust. The vehicle is currently up for sale in Florida having driven over 152,000 miles, but that’s nothing for a well-maintained Defender like this one. We’re told that the vehicle packs a replaced engine with just 3,500 miles on it, and that engine was refreshed before being swapped in. A recent alignment and tire balancing has also reportedly been carried out on this relatively modern classic four-by-four.
If you’re looking for a short wheelbase off-roader that’s relatively new, but not too techie at the same time, we have the perfect candidate for you right here, straight from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Check out this sub 30,000-mile 2010 Land Rover Defender 90! Coming from the original Defender series that was made until 2016, this machine has heritage that dates back to Land Rover’s Series I of 1948. Yet, it’s also got a newer powertrain and enjoys some further aftermarket upgrades too. This 2010 Land Rover Defender 90 combines legendary off-road capability with custom rugged aesthetics. Built in Solihull, UK, it features the reliable 2.4L turbocharged diesel inline-four from the Puma TDCi era, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission and a full-time 4WD system. Outfitted for adventure, this short-wheelbase Defender is a proper overland rig with purposeful mods, yet retains the iconic boxy profile that has defined the Defender legacy.
Land Rover introduced the Series I off-roader was introduced in 1948, as Rover knew that, like Jeep over in the USA, with World War II finished, they needed to switch priorities and serve the civilian market. The Land Rover Series I holds the designation of being the world’s first mass-produced four-wheel drive vehicle with doors and solid roof. Over time, the Series I became the Series II then Series III, before gaining the Defender name in late 1990, in keeping with Land Rover’s new naming convention. The Defender came in 90,110 and 130 forms, which roughly referred to its wheelbase. Here, we have a 1997 Land Rover Defender 110 County Edition which is a five-door station wagon variant. You can see by its right-hand drive layout that it’s likely a UK import. With only over 16,000 miles to its name, the vehicle currently resides in Houston, Texas, but is basically at home anywhere in the country – especially where there are no tarmac roads. After all, it’s meant to go off-roading and overlanding!
The Land Rover Defender is one of the strangest cars in the automotive world, at least the older models are. They aren’t the most enjoyable to drive or the most comfortable carrier for passengers. Yet they are absolutely adored all around the world for their undeniable British character. The Defender is as British as warm beer, good tea, and bad teeth. Not to mention, they are mighty good off-roaders as well. What you’ll often find in the market or on roads is the Defender 110, rendering the short-wheelbase Defender 90 quite rare to come by. This 2000 Land Rover Defender 90 found its way to our inventory from St. Cloud, Florida. Having driven over 119000, this example remains well-maintained and boasts a re-upholstered interior.
There are many motor vehicles that have been described as legendary. So many, in fact, that the word has lost much of its meaning. While there have been many interesting machines introduced in the last 100 years, only a relative handful truly deserve this accolade. One of the few that does is the English Land Rover. This amazing 4x4 wagon, the first of its kind, is instantly recognized wherever it appears. In fact, it is the first motor vehicle ever seen by a quarter of the world's population. While its look has hardly changed since 1948, the vehicle that the world knows as a Land Rover has come a long way. The Land Rover Defender has a production window of over 60 years, starting with the original series 1. This example of the 1986 Land Rover Defender 110 has covered 14,707 miles and is currently located in Westport, Connecticut.
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