The Land Rover Defender is a sought-after vehicle for off-road adventurers. With its durable boxy frame and off-road prowess, it has been the go-to choice for wilderness excursions for nearly four decades. Throughout the history of the Defender, Land Rover has taken a predominantly conservative approach with its design. However, the automaker looks to go in a new direction for the next-generation Defender by offering an ultra-luxurious model.

The success of the current-generation Defender is due to its higher level of luxury

The current-generation Land Rover Defender is a huge success. The demand is so high that Land Rover hasn’t been able to keep up with the production of the Defender. One of the reasons for the success of the current-generation Land Rover is that it is more luxurious than earlier models.

What are the changes for the next-generation Land Rover Defender?

Realizing the success of the luxurious current-generation Defender, Land Rover aims to make the next-generation Defender even more luxurious. This includes an extravagant range-topping model. Instead of the typical leather and wood that you find in Defender models, it will have finishes and colors that are more grandiose, with the use of unique materials and a weathered appearance.

The new range-topping Defender model will also feature the new MLA platform. The MLA platform is a flexible architecture that Land Rover also plans on using for future Discovery, Range Rover Velar, and Range Rover Sport models.

For eco-minded SUV shoppers, the plan for the MLA platform is good news. The MLA platform is best suited for electrified vehicles, whether it be an all-electric, a plug-in hybrid, or a mild hybrid. Land Rover is rumored to have plans for an all-electric Defender. The news of the MLA platform is more evidence that this will be a reality in the near future. Also, another strength of the MLA platform is that it offers an excellent blend of off-road prowess and superb on-road driving dynamics.

Land Rover may create a Defender nameplate with a lineup of different models. The ultra-luxurious model could be one of them. Also, Land Rover may release a pickup truck version of the Defender. Additionally, by the end of next year, Land Rover plans to release a three-row Defender model. It is longer, offers more interior space, and can seat up to eight people.

The next-generation Land Rover Defender affects the plans for the Discovery

A significant challenge for Land Rover with regards to creating an expanded lineup of Defender models is to not have it intrude too much on the sales of the Discovery. This has long been an issue for the two SUV models.

To achieve this will require a delicate balancing act for Land Rover. It may require Land Rover to make a more unique and distinctive Discovery model. Land Rover may also need to create a unique luxury brand of Defender models that are entirely separate from the Land Rover Range Rover models.

Land Rover is a British brand of predominantly four-wheel drive, off-road capable vehicles, owned by multinational car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), since 2008 a subsidiary of India’s Tata Motors.

JLR currently builds Land Rovers in Brazil, China, India, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom. The Land Rover name was created in 1948 by the Rover Company for a utilitarian 4WD off-roader; yet today Land Rover vehicles comprise solely upmarket and luxury sport utility cars.

Land Rover was granted a Royal Warrant by King George VI in 1951, and 50 years later, in 2001, it received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for outstanding contribution to international trade. Over time, Land Rover grew into its own brand (and for a while also a company), encompassing a consistently growing range of four-wheel drive, off-road capable models.

Starting with the much more upmarket 1970 Range Rover, and subsequent introductions of the mid-range Discovery and entry-level Freelander line (in 1989 and 1997), as well as the 1990 Land Rover Defender refresh, the marque today includes two models of Discovery, four distinct models of Range Rover, and after a three-year hiatus, a second generation of Defenders have gone into production for the 2020 model year—in short or long wheelbase, as before.

For half a century (from the original 1948 model, through 1997, when the Freelander was introduced), Land Rovers and Range Rovers exclusively relied on their trademark boxed-section vehicle frames

. Land Rover used boxed frames in a direct product bloodline until the termination of the original Defender in 2016; and their last body-on-frame model was replaced by a monocoque with the third generation Discovery in 2017. Since then all Land Rovers and Range Rovers have a unified body and frame structure.

Since 2010, Land Rover have also introduced two-wheel drive variants, both of the Freelander, and of the Evoque, after having built exclusively 4WD cars for 62 years. The 2WD Freelander has been succeeded by a 2WD Discovery Sport, available in some markets.