2021 Land Rover Defender gets new PHEV & mild hybrid diesel powertrains

The new-gen Land Rover Defender gets a load of updates for 2021, ranging from new PHEV & diesel mild-hybrid powertrains to a new trim and the much-awaited two-door Defender 90.  

Land Rover has given some significant updates to the MY21 Defender, despite the new-gen model being only an-year-old.

The biggest update comes in the form of a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain. The new Defender P400e is powered by a 2.0-litre Ingenium petrol motor (296bhp) that's assisted by a 105kW (141bhp) electric motor. Powering the electric motor is a 19.2kWh battery pack, which also offers an electric-only driving range of 43km. As a result, the combined power & torque figures of the Defender P400e are pegged at 398bhp and 640Nm. Using a 50kW fast charger, the Defender P400e can be charged to 80% in just 30 minutes.

Also, joining the 2021 Defender's powertrain line-up are Land Rover's latest Ingenium hybrid diesel engines, which were recently added to the 2021 Range Rover & Range Rover Sport model line-ups. The 3.0-litre in-line six diesel engine is being offered in three versions – D200 (197bhp/500Nm), D250 (246bhp/570Nm), & the range-topping D300 (296bhp/650Nm). All versions come with 48V mild-hybrid assistance.

There's also a new X-Dynamic trim on offer for the Defender, which bridges the gap between the standard Defender and the top-spec Defender X. The X-Dynamic trim is characterised by multiple body trim bits finished in either gloss or satin black.

Also, the smaller, two-door six/five-seater Defender 90 has officially gone on sale in Europe and the US. Originally, the Defender 90 was supposed to go on sale alongside the full-size 110, however, it's launch got delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Defender 90 offers a more practical off-roader, thanks to a shorter wheelbase, better break-over angle and an optional six-seat layout. The trim/powertrain options for the Defender 90 remain the same as the 110.

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