2020 Land Rover Defender reaches 1.2 million kilometre test landmark

KUALA LUMPUR: 2020 Land Rover Defender has reached a new development milestone, as its prototype version has now completed the 1.2 million kilometre test landmark on April 30. The date is also popular as the World Land Rover Day in the automobile industry. It has now been 71 years since the original Land Rover was showcased at the Amsterdam Motor Show in 1948.

On this special occasion, a specially-camouflaged prototype Land Rover Defender will be sent for the field-testing in conjunction with Tusk Trust, its conservation partner. The prototype version will have to wade through rivers, tow heavy loads, and carry the supplies across difficult terrain in its test phase, all these will take place at the 14,000-hectare Borana Conservancy in Kenya.

The carmaker has confirmed that at the time of 2020 Land Rover Defender’s debut, the off-roader would have passed around 45,000 individual tests in extreme environments. The tests are like the sub-40-degree cold of the Arctic, 50-degree heat of the desert, and altitudes of about 10,000 feet at the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.

The off-roader will also get the on-road dynamics done at the Nürburgring facility situated Germany. Moreover, the all-terrain capabilities of the car are tested at sand dunes of Dubai, the muddy roads of Eastnor, UK, and rocky terrains of Moab in Utah.

It’s the Gaydon, located in the UK, where designing and developing of the upcoming Defender are done. The locale is also popular as the home of Land Rover’s engineering, testing facilities and design. The production phase of the model will be held at the new manufacturing facility of Land Rover situated at Nitra, Slovakia.

The carmaker has not spoken much about 2020 Land Rover Defender, while we only know that the car will be available in only two wheelbases. Furthermore, the coaster will be based on the MLA platform and will reportedly get an air suspension.