Defender 90 returns to market

Scrape the mud off the gumboots, unpack the Akubra and Driza-Bone -- Land Rover's Defender 90 is back.

The closest thing you can buy to the original Land Rover that played such a role in post-war Australian culture, the Defender 90 is the short, chunky two-door version of the company's workhorse model.

It was discontinued here in 2006, leaving the stretched 110 and 130 Defender models to fly the flag.

At the time, the Defender 90 used the same five-cylinder turbodiesel as the previous-generation Td5 Discovery, hooked up to a five-speed manual gearbox with the prerequisite two-speed transfer case.

Its seemingly basic nature was offset by coil-spring suspension and full-time four-wheel drive from previous-generation Range Rover models, but with its live axles, ladder construction chassis, flat aluminium panels and exposed door hinges, it was never anything but a task-focussed 4WD.

And the Defender 90 underlined this with its two-passenger configuration leaving the cargo area clear for throwing post-hole diggers, slashers and chainsaws aboard with little ceremony.

The new version changes that a bit.

It becomes, for the first time, a four-seater with two fold-down, forward-facing second row seats in the cargo bay -- although it still only has two doors.

It also gets the four-cylinder 2.4-litre turbodiesel employed in 110 and 130 Defender models, producing a modest 90kW that is compensated by a solid 360Nm of torque, which is substantially better than the previous 2.5-litre five-cylinder diesel's 300Nm. If the maximum torque seems to come in a little high -- at 2000rpm -- Land Rover points out that 315Nm is available from a more turbodiesel-typical 1500rpm.

The EU4 compliant long-stroke engine uses a cast-iron block with a 16-valve alloy cylinder head fed by a variable-geometry turbocharger and common rail fuel injection.

Claimed average fuel consumption is 10.0L/100km and CO2 emissions are quoted at 266g/km. Fuel tank capacity is a relatively modest 60 litres -- although the sight of numerous auxiliary jerry cans is not rare in any Defender model.

The transmission today is a manual six-speeder with a lower first gear and a higher top gear to combine extra low-speed lugging power with better highway cruising ability. Land Rover says the new box is also more refined and much nicer to use.

Naturally, the Defender 90 has a two-speed transfer case and a locking rear differential that help it perform miracles in the bush. The short wheelbase and high ground clearance relegate it among the most capable, true off-roaders currently available.

A touch of modernity can be found in the wheels: the Defender 90 comes as standard with 7Jx16 alloys, complete with a spare hanging off the tailgate.

The Defender 90 has had a bit of a brush-up inside too.

Taller front seats are claimed to give improved back support, while the new rear seats are said to provide "significantly increased comfort and space over the outgoing model." Seats are trimmed in a mixture of vinyl and cloth.

Driver and front passenger are also now confronted by a new, rattle-resistant single-piece dash, providing what is described as "clear, concise information to the driver," along with all-LED instrument illumination.

A radio/CD system is standard, with improvements to the speaker arrangements including optional high-mounted tweeters.

The heating/ventilation system claims a 50 per cent improvement in airflow, with the heater warming the cabin "40 per cent quicker than before." Land Rover says the air-conditioning takes half the time of the previous model to cool the cabin -- and can take in seven degrees lower than before if required.

The Defender 90 also gets power front windows, adjustable headlight trim, remote central locking, a folding rear step, new passenger-side grab handles and storage shelves on both sides of the dash.

Major options include a "sun hatch" and metallic paint.

The Defender 90 comes with four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes and traction control, but stability control has not made its way into the specifications.

Current safety requirements mean the Defender does not need to be equipped with airbags either.

Land Rover says the new 90 model means it now offers "Nine different Defender derivatives, across three wheel bases."

Although deliveries don't begin until the first quarter of 2010, the Defender 90 is on sale now at a recommended price, before statutory and delivery charges, of $44,990.

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