The Land Rover Defender has become a sensation the world over, with positive affirmations of its ability complimenting its rugged-retro styling. A stretched 8 seat Defender 130 configuration has now been teased in the dunes ahead of its international debut.
The new shape Landy was introduced to the world in late 2019 and since then, new iterations and varying wheelbases have been streaming into the portfolio of the once-utilitarian-only brand. Now is the turn for the 8 seat Defender 130, which in essence looks like a stretched Defender 110. Unlike its slightly shorter sibling that can only seat 7 occupants, the latest addition will be able to squeeze in one more passenger with a 2-3-3 seating configuration across its three rows.
Watch the Defender 130 preview here.
The styling is identical to that of the 90 and 110 variants with earlier reports stating that it has the same 3,022 mm wheelbase as the 110, with the overall length increasing by 342 mm to a total of 5,100 mm. Like it’s shorter derivatives, we are also expecting the 8 Seat Defender 130 to offer the same powertrains from before with the entry level model employing a 2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder putting out 221 kW and 400 N.m while a 3-litre inline-six with mild-hybrid assistance bumps ratings up to 295 kW and 551 N.m. The 5-litre supercharged V8 is the crème de la crème of the Defender range, capable of 386 kW and 625 N.m to lug the behemoth around.
Indeed, the extra rear overhang which enables the new 130 to host 8 occupants may inhibit its general offroading ability but it will likely offer cargo carrying capacity unlike any of its smaller and more compact counterparts. Regardless, the eight-speed automatic and permanent four-wheel drive system on all Defenders mean that it will still be potent off of the beaten path.
