Land Rover Defender 90 and commercial hit showrooms along with 398bhp plug-in hybrid

Land Rover has announced a series of updates for its recently released Defender, including the addition of a plug-in hybrid model along with new six-cylinder engines and additional trim and equipment levels.

The 2021 model year also marks the delayed launch of the short-wheelbase 90 variant as well as the arrival of the Hard Top commercial version of the 4x4.

The biggest changes for the Defender, which was only launched earlier this year, are in the engine bay.

A new plug-in hybrid petrol drivetrain joins the range, badged as the P400. The system uses a four-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine along with a 105kW electric motor to offer a total of 398bhp. The drivetrain, exclusive to the 110 variant, gives the Defender CO2 emissions of 74g/km and WLTP fuel economy of 85.3mpg while being capable of accelerating to 60mph in just 5.4 seconds. A 19.2kWh battery will provide electric-only driving range of up to 27 miles.