Land Rover Defender deployed to fight coronavirus

KUALA LUMPUR: On the one hand, we see the impact of the novel coronavirus in the automobile industry, but on the other hand, we witness how the industry fights back against it. Several automakers including FCA, Ford, General Motors, Tesla, Volkswagen have stepped forward for the supply of medical equipment like ventilators, face masks, etc. to the government.

Following the suit, the British car brand Land Rover extended its support to the fight against the coronavirus. A fleet of Land Rover Defenders meant for the press drive in England has now been provided to the emergency services and the Red Cross, as tweeted by Richard Agnew, the brand's public relations director.

After the cancellation of media drive planned for the last week, the firm has decided to bring out the vehicles for the support of people who are isolated or vulnerable instead of keeping them in a closed workshop. A total of 105 Defenders are shipping out for duty and around 30 more will be prepared by the coming week.

The Defender has a history of responding to the crisis. More than 60 years ago, the Defender was first deployed to support the Red Cross operations in the Middle East.

In Malaysia, the 2020 Land Rover Defender is scheduled to be launched in the first half of the year. The upcoming model signifies a return of the most capable off-roader of the brand. The SUV will have two body styles on offer, Defender 90 and Defender 110. The first body style features two-doors and a short-wheelbase while the 110 version is a four-door vehicle with a long wheelbase. 

The two available engine options include a 2.0-litre turbo-4 engine producing 296 hp and 400 Nm of torque and a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-6 mild-hybrid unit with 395 hp and 550 Nm of torque. So stay tuned to Zigwheels Malaysia for the latest updates on the model launch and the automakers’ support for coronavirus.

Also read: Coronavirus (Covid-19): How automakers are playing their part