Although the wheelbase is identical to the 110, the body is clearly larger.

Is bigger always better? Land Rover will test that cliché with the new Defender 130. This Defender 130 is a stretched off-roader that was first spotted on Motor1.com in August 2021. The image set shows little change in appearance.

This means that the prototype still has a camouflage wrap covering its outside. However, it is a basic wrap with no obvious faux panels underneath. We don’t expect that the Defender 130 will differ from the 90 and 110 in terms of styling, except for the extra junk in the trunk. The wheelbase of the Defender 110 four-door should be the same. What’s behind the wheelbase is what matters most.

This front was captured without an external-mount spare on the rear gate. It allowed us to see the Defender’s bulky backside unimpeded. It is a carbon copy from the 110’s shorter 110. The taillight design and position of the reflectors in bumper are identical. Although the muffler with dual exhaust outlets remains in the same place, it doesn’t look like a production-spec part. The body extends several inches beyond rear wheels in order to accommodate an additional row of seats.

It is unknown how this space arrangement will play out inside. The interior is small and we have yet to see it so the legroom for the Defender’s rearmost passengers is not known. The roof is taller than the roof at the rear so headroom shouldn’t be a problem. However, the floor must not be lifted to allow for suspension components. It is expected that the front half of other models will carry over without any changes. Engine options are the same.

The prototype was captured in Sweden while it was undergoing cold-weather testing. However, we believe that there is still a lot of testing to be done. According to our sources, the Defender’s three-row design won’t lose its camouflage before late 2022. It will debut as a 2023 model.