Rise of the L663

THOSE new Defenders get everywhere, don’t they? Well, they certainly have this month, and I have to say my enthusiasm for the L663 is growing rapidly. On my visit to new off-road venture Dalton 4×4, I was lucky enough to pilot the owner of the site’s very smart 110 D250 around the stunning Cumbrian hillside course, and the capability of the Defender is staggering even in slick, sticky mud and on seemingly impossible climbs.
Elsewhere in the issue, Patrick Cruywagen puts a 2016 Defender 130 up against another L663 Defender 110 – this time in the rugged terrain of Botswana.
What a place to pit these two very different vehiles agains each other; flick to page 48 to find wat he and his fellow overlanders think of both the old and new models.
One area the old Defender certainly outranks the new is in sheer simplicity and ease of DIY-ability, as you’ll see where we fit e new Terrafirma winch and mount L663 Defender 90 in the Tech section (p102). Don’t get me wrong, upgrading a new Defender is still within the remit of a competent DIY mechanic, but removing the front bumper is rather more involved than undoing four bolts…
Has your opinion of the new Defender changed since it was launched? Feel free to give me a shout at [email protected] and let me know your thoughts, I’d love to hear them. And, as always, enjoy the issue.

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• Houses Australia – April 2023
• Hello! Magazine UK – 03 April 2023