Based on the 90 Hard Top, the bodywork is painted Zermatt Silver with the roof and wheel arches finished in Santorini Black. To complete the look, the Defender X-Tech gets unique gloss black 16” Saw Tooth alloy wheels. The interior comes in Ebony and, for a little bit of luxury, the seats have leather side bolsters.
As with all new UK civilian-spec Defenders, power comes from a 2.4 litre, four-cylinder diesel engine. Developing 120 bhp (90 kW / 122 PS), it’s the maximum torque of 360 Nm (265 lb/ft) that really impresses.
Consequently performance isn’t too bad, with the Defender 90 hitting 60 mph (96 km/h) from rest in 14.7 seconds. And although it might not be the greenest choice available - CO2 emissions are 266 g/km - fuel economy is surprisingly good given the Defender’s weight and aerodynamics. On the combined cycle, for example, it achieves 28.3 mpg (10.0 l/100km).
The Defender X-Tech will be available from March 2011, with prices starting at £24,995. That’s a considerable premium over the standard 90 Hard Top, which costs £20,995 on the road, and the colour scheme might not be to everyone’s taste. However, there can be absolutely no doubt about the vehicle’s underlying abilities.
