In 2021, Land Rover added a shorter two-door variant to its resurrected Defender nameplate: Defender 90. Compared to the larger Defender 110, the shorter version of the iconic British SUV Rover looks very cute. With its neat white roof, perfect proportions, Pangea Green paint and spare tires floating on the side-opening tailgate, the Defender 90 has a different feel from the larger 110.
Although its classic boxy shape and excellent details are basically the same, the Defender 90 box looks better-and more purposeful. If the Four-door Guard 110 is a family weekend SUV driven by filial parents, then the 90 is the person who lazy to surf and go home in the mud on Tuesday.
Of course, this is a bit stereotype. The four-door 110 looks sharp and likes impromptu excursions, which may include swimming naked in a creek or stream as deep as 35.4 inches, and using a wading sensor to detect the front depth and display it on the central touch screen. Except for the most extreme cases, 110 and Defender 90 are equally good at off-road. This includes the same approach angle and departure angle (indicating its ability to climb steep obstacles without scratching the chin or rear bumper), and an optional terrain response 2 system that allows the driver to choose according to the terrain Optimal traction mode.
But for two-door SUVs, whether it is the Defender, the reborn Ford Bronco or the classic Jeep Wrangler, there is something more meaningful. It is worth noting that before the new Defender 90 and Bronco (four-door Bronco are also available) launched last summer, the Wrangler was the last two-door SUV still sold in the United States. And this configuration of the Wrangler-its two-door history can be traced back to the Willis Jeep that helped the US Army win World War II-its four-door unlimited version decisively exceeded sales.
In the first year, Land Rover sold more than 16,000 award-winning four-door guards in the United States. Joe Eberhart, President and CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America, told Forbes Wheels that as the Defender 90 has just arrived in the showroom, it is too early to say how many buyers will choose a smaller and more sporty version.
“We do know that there is a market for Defender 90,” Eberhardt said. “They are people who are looking for more personalized and expressive means of transportation; something that stands out from the crowd.”
As Americans dismissed the carefree two-door coupe from the Chevrolet Camaro to the luxury GT from Europe and Japan, this practical group has also moved away from two-door SUVs and pickups.
But oversized utilities are not always the standard. For decades, including the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the sales of two-door sedans have surpassed that of sedans. People don’t mind squeezing into the back seat. In many cases, the door of a yacht-sized coupe (think Cadillac Eldorado) is as big as an ocean raft. As for the 4×4 in the early years, the two-door model was very popular among outdoor crowds. Those adventurous and unpretentious models include the Toyota “FJ” Land Cruiser-manufactured from 1960 to 1984 and now a precious collection-the first-generation Toyota 4Runner, Chevrolet K5 Blazer, Jeep Cherokee, Nissan Pathfinder , Isuzu Mounted Police and Feet. Wayne, Indiana, International Harvester Boy Scouts.
Automakers also introduced several bite-sized and tall things, heralding today’s cross-border era. In 1986, Suzuki succeeded with its stylish two-door Samurai, a mini SUV that, despite only having a 63-horsepower engine, is fun on the street and crazy when off-road. The Samurai became the fastest-selling Japanese car in American history in its first year and gave birth to Suzuki Sidekick (and the Geo Tracker branch of General Motors), after which the controversial rollover scandal affected its sales and doomed its fate.
The original Toyota RAV4 offered two-door models from 1996 to 2000, and in 1998 introduced a convertible suitable for sophomores. The strangest is the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet. This two-door convertible version of the popular Murano looks (and drives) like a Humpty Dumpty after his crash. After three years of tepid sales, Nissan kindly discontinued production in 2014, but perhaps it had the last laugh. Rolling on the open-top CrossCabrio today will attract a group of curious bystanders faster than some sports cars.
The new Defender 90 is also guaranteed to turn heads, but in a good way. I’ve driven the Defender 110 and made a rugged climb from the steep slopes of Mount Equinox in Vermont; hard-core off-road in the jungles of Maine-including the optional $4,000 made-in-Italian rooftop tent in Landy Camp overnight alone. Both models represent a new touchstone for off-road 4×4 off-road performance, thanks in part to the adaptive air suspension and sophisticated aluminum chassis, Land Rover claims its rigidity is three times that of the best body. Frame truck.
However, on rural roads north of Manhattan, the Defender 90 immediately demonstrated its flexibility advantage over its big brother. As expected, this is a small SUV weighing only 4,550 pounds, but with the same turbo The supercharged, 296-horsepower, more powerful 110 has a 4,815 four-cylinder engine. The price of the Defender 90 is also lower, starting at $48,050, while the four-cylinder 110 starts at $51,850. Naturally, no matter which of the two engine options it has, it feels faster to the touch. The first edition of the Defender 90 ($66,475) I drove was almost fully loaded from a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with a supercharger, a turbocharger, and a 48-volt mild hybrid supercharger. Here comes the right amount of 395 horsepower.
It accelerates to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, keeping the smaller SUV stylish. The top-of-the-line Defender V8 will be available later this year (two body styles), starting at $98,550 for 90 and $101,750 for 110. These models of supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engines provide 518 horsepower, which is the same as the engines that provide artillery-using soundtrack-matched firepower in models such as Jaguar F-Pace SUV, F-Type sports car and Range Rover Sport SVR.
Whether it is a defender, a Wrangler or a Mustang, the two-door version also claims to have an off-road advantage, even if only a small number of car owners will maximize this ability. The compact size allows them to choose narrower trails and tighter turns than their stronger siblings. The shorter wheelbase allows them to overcome higher obstacles without “centering” or hanging near the middle like a seesaw on a fulcrum.
What is the most kept secret in these rugged SUVs? They are actually very suitable for a certain type of urban fashionista, as this first two Wrangler owner attests. The new Defender 90 is only 170 inches long, more than a foot shorter than the compact Honda Civic sedan. (The two Wranglers are about 167 inches long). This allows them to squeeze into very narrow parking spaces. At the same time, they are tall, well-armed fortresses, perfect for observing traffic and defending against unpredictable Uber drivers. These SUVs can also get rid of potholes and other urban obstacles that can damage the tires and wheels of traditional cars.
Despite the pleasing proportions and performance advantages, two obstacles still exist. The relatively thin cargo space and the trickier back seat equals terrible entry and exit. Climbing out of them requires the dexterity of young people to avoid tripping over thresholds and landing teeth on the sidewalk first.
Two-door guards make things easier, including a button on the front seats that can push them forward for easier (but still awkward) entry. However, once boarding, NBA forwards have enough headroom and plenty of legroom.
The bigger trade-off is that the 17 inches of lost length (compared to 110 inches) is almost entirely in the cargo hold. 110 The cargo space behind the second row is more than twice what it was in the 1990s, 34.6 cubic feet, and 15.6 cubic feet. 110 also provides a pair of child-sized third-row seats that can accommodate seven people. The 90 does offer an optional jump seat (also available on the 110) that converts the front bucket into a convenient three-row bench that can accommodate six people. However, for families with two-person strollers and a lot of equipment, 110 is a logical game.
Stuart Schorr, head of communications for JLR North America, rightly pointed out that potential customers will know which club they belong to: “When I took some people for a drive in the 90s, they said,’I will definitely get this [because] not looking for practical Solution; I bought it because it’s cool and I like it.’”
Post time: Oct-03-2021