Spanish Defender
 

The old Santana company in Spain(now owned by Suzuki) are making an updated version of Anibal,which was the name of the Defender that used to be made under licence by them some years ago.
Much has been written about choice of vehicle for the Sahara.Given that the above car has an Isuzu diesel engine and that there are now other significant differences between it and the LRD,BUT that Spain is just accross the pond!Does anyone have experience of the new Anibal or,care to offer views on its suitability?

Actually i tried one out in the UK the other week for the book, Fourex of someone in Norfolk bring them in.

It looked to me like a Defender with many of the niggles and flaws sorted out - (they also make a non Euro electronic verion for Africa, etc).

I esp liked the 100L plastic tank and roof and comprehensive rustprooofing - must say tho it felt a bit flat on power (but I am still getting an HJ61 out of my system - its onl;y a 2.8 after all) and the gbox and stick was a bit crude after a TLC.

Good space too and springs were fine - I think it would be a great desert car.

Ch

My understanding was that its an Iveco 2.8 with a bosch engine management system.

The vehicle looks good and it has proper springs not those coil things (ducks and waits for flack :-)

And I beliee they are good value for money too compared to a defender



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Rich
LR101 300Tdi Ambi 'Tiggurr'

You can think of a "series IV" - leaf springs retained (although the parabolic ones provide for much more comfort), a lot of flaws sorted out: seating position, contact corrosion as it's converted to steel, wider framerails which allows for the 100L-tank, improved LT85-gearbox and transfer case (no ATF anymore), etc.

Power from the IVECO engine: Well, Santana had its own version of the 125HP-setup developed as they reduced torque to 275Nm to make life easier for the drivetrain. The drawback: IVECO ratings are SAE (without accessiries), although they say ECE. So the engine might have 115HP/260Nm for real. As the strongest version in IVECO Daily is 145HP/320Nm, some add-on electronics can be used without damaging reliability. Please stay with models prolonging injection duration, not common rail pressure - this will do harm to the fuel system.

And a question to Srs II and III experts: Front axle is pure Rover, but what's the rear? Seems to be a version of the ENV, but I'm not sure..

Regards,
Peter

I've not looked at the Anibal in detail, but could the rear diff be the same one they use in the rear of the Range Rover II (and, I believe, on Wolf XD military defenders). That one also looks a bit like an ENV, but I don't think it is.

I've not looked at the Anibal in detail, but could the rear diff be the same one they use in the rear of the Range Rover II (and, I believe, on Wolf XD military defenders). That one also looks a bit like an ENV, but I don't think it is. </font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


the new 110's have an ENV type axle replacing the salisbury. it's not quite ENV, but looks like one. the military Wolf has a similar axle but it's 2" wider than the civilian 110's.

not sure why LR changed to this type of axle. i <think> it's something to do with unsprung weight, or maybe costs of the salisbury?

They told me the Santana diffs were something better/stronger than standard with 'four of something' instead of two - but dont ask me what...

Tech dept.

btw, web = www.fourtecuk.com

PS. I see a Santana test in the May issue of 4x4 Mart magazine just out.