2003 Defender

[Olive Drab]

Paris, 26 September 2002

The Defender is the icon of the Land Rover brand -
its familiar shape harking back to the first Land Rover launched in 1948.
Revealed for the first time at the Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris are new
features for 2003. These include upgraded in-car entertainment systems, new interior treatment and exterior updates give Defender contemporary relevance.

The Defender range now has a new model line-up comprising the Defender E, the Defender S and a new premium version - the Defender SE.

Improved Specification for 2003
The new in-car entertainment systems feature the option of a head unit with a single slot CD player. This is available with four speakers on station wagons and hard tops. Black carpet is now specified for Defender to enhance its contemporary appeal and vehicles fitted with a cubby box now feature twin integrated cup holders. With practicality in mind, load retention rings are fitted in the cargo compartments of all Defender 03 model year hard top and station wagon vehicles while the heated windscreen option is now available separately.

New Flagship Model
The new Defender model range consists of the Defender E, S and SE. The Defender E embodies all the robust features associated with Defender while the new Defender S adds the specification previously found on the popular 'County'model. This includes body coloured roof and wheelarch eyebrows, tinted glassand front mudflaps. The interior is equipped with cloth seats, radio cassette player and, on 90 Station Wagon models, the bulkhead is deleted to provide more space. Convenience features include electric front windows, central doorlocking with remote control and an alarm/immobiliser.

Adding to this impressive list, the specification of the new top-of-the-range
Defender SE has a number of unique, premium features including a 'Brunel'gunmetal finish on the grille, headlamp surround and interior switch panel,black leather covered control knobs and steering wheel and seats in blackleather and ripstop trim. A mesh storage pocket is fitted to the rear end door while the cold climate pack, consisting of heated windscreen and heated front seats is fitted as standard. Side runners and smoked side and front indicator lenses provide further external differentiation. The SE derivative is available in Defender 90 Hard Top and Station Wagon and Defender 110 Hard Top, StationWagon and Double Cab styles.


High Technology Five Cylinder Diesel Engine

Defenders sold in Europe are powered by the 90 kW (122 PS) direct injection, five cylinder, 2.5 litre Td5 diesel engine featuring electronic unit injectors.

The Td5 engine offers superb performance and low-down pulling power controlledby a 'drive-by-wire' dual-mode electronic throttle. Continuous electronic monitoring of the engine ensures optimum performance in all conditions whilefuel economy of up to 8.8 l/100 km coupled with 20,000 km service intervalsensures low cost of ownership.

Significant Upgrades
The features of the latest Defender 2003 model year vehicles build on recent significant upgrades to the interior, body and chassis. The interior has been enhanced by a revised facia with a new centre console and new switches while both the heater system and the wiper mechanism have been improved.

The latest Defender station wagon and hard top variants have a new rear end door. The new door is made from zinc plated steel with both the inner pressing and outer panel being one piece for greater strength with improved consistency, corrosion protection and sealing. Rear window retention is by a continuous seal and a central, high mounted stop lamp is fitted.

Central door locking is now available being standard on the Defender S and SE and optional on the Defender E. The system is operated using a remote control, the driver's sill button or the driver's door lock. The security of the doorlocks has also been increased and the Defender now has a common key for the ignition and the door locks. All Defender models can be fitted with electric front windows operated from switches on the new centre console. Electric front windows are standard on Defender S and SE models.

Option Availability
A wide range of options and accessories are available to enhance the appearance and functionality of the Defender. The performance and handling of the Defender is improved in both on- and off-road environments with the option of the ABS braking system combined with 4-wheel Electronic Traction Control. Other options include metallic paint, towing equipment, air conditioning and a centre seat oncertain models.

Accessories include winches, lamp guards, roof racks and aluminium appliqué panels. A choice of wheels and tyres is available including 'Freestyle Choice' alloy wheels with 235/85 tyres, heavy duty wheels for 110 and 130 models and a range of specialist off-road tyres.

Land Rover Special Vehicles
For the ultimate in practicality, Land Rover Special Vehicles provides an
in-house conversion service and offers a bespoke service to customers
world-wide as well as a range of specialist vehicles such as mobile workshops,high-lift platforms, dropsides and tippers. A full range of specialist options is also available such as winches, light bars, sirens, roofracks and generators.

[kimpOy]

wala bang pics

[mbt]

nawawala na yata yung appeal ng defender as a back-to-basics workhorse...

[kimpOy]

DEFENDER


LARA CROFT'S Defender


kuya olive don't forget this



The Defender Black Limited Edition


The stunning new Defender Black Limited Edition has arrived. Available as either 110 Double Cab or 90 Station Wagon, the Defender Black combines saloon car luxuries with Defender's legendary off road excellence.

Defender Black comes fully equipped with micatallic Java Black paint, black leather seat facings, single slot CD player, ABS & Electronic Traction Control, air conditioning, remote central locking, electric front windows, Boost alloy wheels, chequer plate wing tops and side strips and external windscreen protection bar.

Only 250 Defender Blacks are to be produced. Priced at only £24,995 on the road, they won't be in the dealers for very long.

[splerdu]

angas yung lara croft defender, pero pag dinala mo sa gubat sigurado ubos ka sa lamok =)

[Olive Drab]

kim,
thanks for the pictures.
gusto ko WHITE Defender, ayaw ko ng luxuries.
i still want the mechanical windows and doorlocks.
but i want the TD5 engine with Elec. Traction Control

[RS Sprint]

Rover sold a Tomb Raider Edition Defender in the UK a few months back. Very popular apparently for the posers.

There was once a time when the entire British Automotive Industry (British Leyland, RR-Bentley, Jaguar-AM) used Lucas Electronics. And even up to now, anything British Made is suspect to reliability. Buti nalang gumagamit na sila ng Bosch / Siemens electronics.

As for Lucas Electronic stuff? Well, Lucas became known as "The Prince of Darkness" as these had a knack for shorting out in bad weather at night. ;)

As for Rover's more modern offerings prior to the super Range Rover developed by previous owner BMW? Even the British press say that if you have to cross the Sahara desert and your life depended on it, get a Toyota Land Cruiser. ;)

[Olive Drab]

RS Sprint,
may i ask where you read that?
a footnote or web address perhaps.
im sure my friends from the Landrover Club wil not agree.

please check this page too:
http://www.expeditionexchange.com/action/indexmain4.htm

see Land Rovers in action around the world including..
"A line-up of Defenders during Operation Desert Storm. You may have seen this photograph before on a famous tee shirt with the caption "A Jeep's Worse Nightmare". Note the widespread use of Michelin XS sand tires"

[RS Sprint]

Will check my magazines. It was in CAR where they mentioned this. I am talking about the Range Rover and not the Defender.

[Olive Drab]

RS Sprint,
its okay. masarap lang kasing pabasa sa mga Landrover fans.
im sure you know the rivalry between the LRs and the LCs.

[RS Sprint]

True, but somehow I'm inclined to believe the over-all reliability issues particularly on the Range Rover HSE's.

I've had 4 friends with their Ranges breaking down on them during the warranty period. Usually its the air suspension and its 160k a pop to have them fixed. Plus every year tumutulo yung oil sump nila, nagpapalit palagi ng gasket. Its apparently a common problem even in the US and Europe. That's not to mention the switches on the console not working for a variety of reasons, and the a/c system conking out for no apparent reason. These were locally bought HSE's.

However, I am a fan of the Defender, especially the Tomb Raider Ed., angas eh.

[Olive Drab]

i heard a number of Defender problems like:
-leaks when raining
-electrical problems by Lucas
-primitive wiper
-atbp.

i dont mind. it is still my dream.

[RS Sprint]

Akin yung Tomd Raider Ed. na Defebder with Lara Croft/Angelina Jolie as my driver / bodyguard. LOL!

[OTEP]

Kaya naman natatalo ng Toyota ang Land Rover sa Australian market, eh. May mga reliability issues pa kasi sila.

[Olive Drab]

and the price too.
mas mahal LRs than LCs.

[splerdu]

Akin yung Tomd Raider Ed. na Defebder with Lara Croft/Angelina Jolie as my driver / bodyguard. LOL!

mmm.... she can guard my body anytime!