Key Takeaways
The Land Rover Defender is certainly one of just a few autos on sale in the USA that’s nonetheless obtainable with metal wheels. Metal wheels (or steelies) are sometimes related to cheap automobiles, but additionally look nice and are cheaper to switch on off-road autos, just like the Defender. Sadly, it appears as if only a few individuals ordered the Defender with the steelies as a result of Land Rover will not provide this selection for the 2024 mannequin 12 months.
Of their place, Land Rover will promote what it calls 20-inch Model 9013 Gloss White wheels. The Model 9013 wheels look similar to the metal ones, however they’re really constructed from aluminum, so they’re lighter. Ford affords one thing comparable on its Bronco and Bronco Sport fashions.
Higher Than Metal
Whereas the brand new aluminum wheels look just like the steelies, they are going to value extra to restore or exchange if they’re broken. Nonetheless, they’re considerably lighter. The outgoing steelies have been solely 18 inches to maintain the load down, however the 9013s could be two inches larger with out including any weight. In truth, Automobile & Driver weighed two an identical Defenders on a scale to learn how a lot weight the brand new wheels save.
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The previous metal wheels tipped in at 39.85 kilos, whereas the bigger aluminum ones have been 31.96 kilos, roughly eight kilos per nook. That is not going to drastically enhance the Defender’s dealing with, however it could save an honest quantity of gasoline over the lifetime of the automobile.
Onerous To Order
We would personally order the Model 9013 Gloss White wheels as a result of they appear unbelievable, however it tremendously limits how one can configure the Defender. These wheels themselves solely value $1,800 however are solely obtainable with a $600 County Exterior Pack that’s bundled with different choices totaling $5,650.
Associated
That is now probably the most highly effective Defender that Land Rover has ever made.
Land Rover forces you to equip the Defender with a 20-inch full-size spare tire ($100), Robustec Ebony veneer ($600), illuminated steel treadplates ($600), Tasman Blue paint ($950), and a white distinction roof ($1,000). If you need a steelie-look-a-like wheel with every other coloration apart from Tasman Blue, it isn’t obtainable. Land Rover will provide the Model 9013 wheels on the 110 and 90 physique types, however not the longer 130.
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