The Invictus Games has kicked off its yearlong countdown to its fifth edition, which will be happening in The Hague, Netherlands from May 9 to 16, 2020. The event, which features wounded, injured or sick servicemen and women competing in a series of adaptive sports, is for a good cause, as it seeks to inspire their recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect.
As ever, Land Rover is a presenting partner and as part of the kickoff, it has showcased the new Defender to the Games’ founder Prince Harry, as well as Dutch gold medallist Jack Pastora. While the next-generation 4×4 remains camouflaged ahead of a full unveiling later in the year, it’s switched up its usual garb, wearing a special Invictus Games-themed livery.
So again, not much can be seen, but we can glean a few details of its tall, boxy body, such as the rectangular headlights, large five-spoke alloy wheels (complete with the Defender script) and red-painted brake callipers. Other items that we’ve seen in past spyshots include an asymmetric front fender vent – which only appears on one side, a nod to the original Defender – and a tailgate-mounted spare wheel.
Land Rover remains mum on the details, but we do know that the car will be offered in two wheelbases and in three- and five-door variants. Expect the new Defender to be built on Jaguar Land Rover’s Modular Longitudinal Architecture (MLA) – or even its own bespoke ladder-frame chassis, like the new Mercedes-Benz G-Class – with air suspension and a range of Ingenium inline four- and six-cylinder engines.
“Everyone at Jaguar Land Rover is hugely passionate about the Invictus Games,” said JLR CEO Ralf Speth. “Having been to the US, Canada and Australia, we are excited to welcome this inspirational event back to Europe. I am so proud the competitors will be among the first people in the world to drive the new Defender when they compete in the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge in The Hague.”
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