Did you know that the iconic Land Rover Defender has had an improvement under the bonnet since 2012? A new cleaner, more compact fuel efficient diesel engine is now sitting under the hood of the tough as nails Defender. The new engine is a EU5 2.2-litre diesel, developed from Ford’s Puma commercial vehicle engine and it replaces the former EU4 2.4-litre diesel engine. Output is the same but changes to the compression ratio, fuel injection and after treatment make it cleaner and quieter. Packaging the diesel particulate filter (DPF) meant changing some of the footwell pressings but allowed it to be close-coupled, improving light-off times. Duty cycles are harsh, though many vehicles will not see the high-speed cruising that typically purges DPFs of soot.
A new, full acoustic engine cover replaces the previous splash cover, reducing radiated engine noise and improving driving refinement. Meeting EU5 regulations, the engine delivers lower levels of the regulated emissions, NOx, CO and HC thanks to an improved combustion system and sophisticated engine management system. Revising the 1,800bar commonrail system, supplied by Continental, and adding an acoustic engine cover reduces NVH considerably. Improving panel gaps and applying sealant before the body goes through the paint shop contributes to lower cabin noise levels.
Despite the smaller capacity and reduced emissions, the new engine produces the same power, 122PS@3,500rpm and torque, 360Nm@2,000rpm, as the outgoing 2.4-litre engine. Performance remains similar too, with a 0-60mph time of 14.7 seconds as before, though the top speed has been raised to 90mph compared to 82mph for the previous version. CO2 emissions on the combined cycle are consistent at 266g/km for the 90 and 295g/km for the 110 and 130.
The GFT MT 82 six-speed gearbox has been retained for 2012 with its excellent ratio spread, high top gear for cruising and enhanced low-speed crawl capability. The lower first gear offers low crawl speed making towing on-road and off-road much easier. The low-down engine torque also helps in-gear acceleration and the tall sixth gear ensures excellent real-world cruising, refinement and fuel economy. Ground gears in both the gearbox and transfer box help contribute to the refinement of the transmission.
Apart from these differences, the vehicle is much as it was, ready to tackle the terrain and a good workhorse.
