A TFLcar reader sent in these images of two Land Rover models out testing.
Up in the Rocky Mountains, we or other members of the TFL community often see prototypes testing in the wild. This time around, one of our readers caught none other than the 2020 Land Rover Defender out and about in Frisco, Colorado. These images surfaced just a week after another reader spotted a Defender testing in Moab.
On top of that, this eagle-eyed reader spotted what appears to be a short wheelbase, two-door Range Rover variant testing in the same general area. While it may look like a Range Rover Sport, it may well be an earlier powertrain test mule for the Defender. By virtue of the picture we received from Moab, it seems these are the same cars that were testing in Utah recently. Now, both cars are getting a shakedown in the Rocky Mountains.
What’s coming up?
Land Rover is in the midst of revamping its entire lineup. After recently killing off the aging Defender, we now know a new one will debut later this year. Beyond that, the 2020 Land Rover should go on sale sometime within the next year. It will be available in two- and four-door variants, and will feature independent rear suspension.
At this point, there’s not much else we know about the 2020 Land Rover Defender. As for powertrains, we still have a mystery on our hands. Odds are we may see the Ingenium four-cylinder unit or a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 under the hood. However, it’s unclear whether a full-bore 5.0-liter V8 would make it into the new Defender. Odds are it will see a turbodiesel engine overseas.
The Defender’s arrival is timely, as it needed a major update to stay competitive with other off-road SUVs. By 2021, the Jeep Wrangler may face two challengers to its off-road crown. The Ford Bronco will inevitably return, and we’ll have this new Land Rover Defender. At this point, we have no idea how much the 2020 Land Rover Defender is going to cost, but it may end up somewhere between the Discovery and the full-fledged Range Rover models.
Stay tuned to TFLcar.com for more updates!
