Land Rover Defender X-Tech

Land Rover has launched a new limited edition version of the Defender. Called the X-Tech, the newcomer makes its debut at the Brussels Motorshow and will go on sale from March, starting at £24,995

Based on the 90 Hard Top Commercial derivative, the X-Tech’s exterior is painted in Zermatt Silver, with a contrasting black finish to the roof and wheel arches. The X-Tech Defender also debuts newly-designed gloss black 16-inch Saw Tooth alloy wheels. The interior is available in Ebony and the seats now feature leather side bolsters.

The Defender X-Tech is powered by a 2.4-litre diesel engine with 360Nm. Despite the special edition spec, buyers can still pick from the full range of accessories also available.

Land Rover LRX

Land Rover’s family album for 2010 is complete!

Lightly disguised with a psychedelic paint job, these world first shots of the Range Rover reveal just how faithful to the design of the original Land Rover LRX concept car the new Range Rover will be.

Under the skin, Range Rover is promising to offer the very latest fuel saving technology. That means drivers will be offered a choice of 2.0-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engines – both of which will offer stop and start technology.

First versions of the car will feature four wheel drive transmissions, though parent firm Land Rover has announced that a two-wheel drive edition is also under development.

The first front wheel drive model in its history, the two-wheel drive machine will be an addition to the range of all wheel drive compact Range Rovers. Serving as an entry level model that will focus on lower running costs and improved fuel efficiency.

Low emmissions are also promised, with the car producing less than 120g/km of CO2 - all of which will be achieved without the need for hybrid technology.

Land Rover is also likley to benefit from the new two wheel drive powertrain. Though no official announcement has been made, it seems likley that the technology will be made available on the front wheel drive edition of the facelifted Land Rover Freelander - which we also have pictured.

Due on sale later in 2010, Land Rover is also planning to introduce a new version of the TD4 E stop and start Freelander - this time paired with an automatic gearbox.

Looking further into the future, Land Rover is also working on a hybrid evolution of both this car and the Compact Range Rover - due for launch in 2013.

Land Rover Defender

One of motoring’s greatest challenges has begun – and Auto Express has joined me in the action! Together, we have teamed up with Land Rover to help redesign the legendary Defender.

Alongside the original Mini and VW Beetle, the Defender is one of the most recognised vehicles on the planet, having barely changed since it was launched back in 1948.

However, while new versions of the MINI and Beetle have been launched, Land Rover’s workhorse has remained virtually unaltered – until now! The company’s advanced design expert, Olli LeGrice, and fellow stylist Florian Dobe turned our ideas for an all-new Defender into the computerised images you see on this page.

Top priority was to make sure that the car appealed to as many people as the current model. As I live in Herefordshire, along with many traditional Defender drivers, I wanted a pick-up version for farmers.

A model for owners who wouldn’t often go off-road was also a priority. The stylists loved the challenge. “Any car designer would die for the chance to recreate a classic like the Defender,” said Olli.

Our design is one of at least seven competing for the green light for production, as boss Carl Peter Forster makes replacing the 4x4 a priority. “The Defender is a key part of the Land Rover DNA,” he said. “We have to capture its essence in a modern day-version.”

The man with the daunting task of assessing what that means is company design chief Gerry McGovern. Speaking at the Geneva show, he told Auto Express: “Replacing the Defender is one of the ultimate design challenges. We are dealing with one of the few authentic icons. It stirs up incredible passion.

“We will have to take some traditional customers out of their comfort zone, remove the nostalgia from the issue and focus on what a new-generation Defender is all about.”

He continued: “There is no point recreating an antique. This has to be a modern, relevant vehicle. It doesn’t have to look anything like the current model!”