Land Rover has introduced a whole raft of changes to its old warhorse, the Defender. Motoring Editor STEVE NELSON checked out its new capabilities both on and off-road... and the interior tweaks, extras and improvements that have made it a more refined vehicle to drive.

The other week I was walking in the Dales when I came across a farmer towing something the size of a small house.

His vehicle was the Land Rover Defender, and I figured out from the registration plate that it was some ten years old.

"Good morning," I offered. "Morning," he replied. He seemed in no mood for idle chit-chat.

I told him I would soon be attending a launch event for the new Defender, and wondered what changes he might welcome.

"I hope they haven't mucked about with it too much," was his dour response as he turned his attention back to pulling the enormous load and disappeared in a wonderful display of torque and power.

I mention this conversation to illustrate the dilemma Land Rover faced in introducing a new version of what is probably the most recognisable car in the world.

This is the vehicle that children probably see pulling the red van out of a ditch in a Postman Pat video. Even at the age three or four, that Land Rover image begins to be etched on our minds.

Many people will go through their lives never knowing that this model, whose lineage goes right back to the original in 1948, is actually called the Defender. But they will know it's a Land Rover.

This is also the vehicle of choice for a small niche of people ranging from farmers to armies to explorers who need that chassis strength, ground clearance, classic geometry and off-road capability. They are a canny bunch, these customers, often dependent on the Defender's pulling power and off-road ability.

Eighty per cent of farmers use the vehicle's towing ability to its maximum capacity, and that means hauling three-and-a-half tonnes. Very few other vehicles could haul 32 boxes of pheasants over uneven ground.

John Edwards, Land Rover UK's managing director, said: "Defender remains a significant contributor to our business, with on average 6,000 units sold year on year in the UK."

He will no doubt be more than pleased with the 800 pre-orders for the new model.

So what have they mucked about with? If I had told the farmer that 700 parts have been changed, he might have had apoplexy. But it's true, even though you would never guess.

The Land Rover name has appeared above the bonnet, which has a revised profile to accommodate the new engine, but these are the only exterior clues to the changes.

The architecture has been retained, with the chassis frame available in three different wheelbases. There are now 14 separate body styles, from pick-ups and soft-tops to crew cabs and station wagons, and these do not include the special conversions and bespoke design and build adaptations.

Under that bonnet is a 2.4-litre Ford common rail diesel unit that not only increases torque, and therefore the Defender's legendary pulling power, but also helps to reduce engine noise.

At a glance

Model: Land Rover Defender.

Prices: From £18,645 for the Defender 90 Pick-up to £26,605 for the XS Double Cab Defender 110.

Engine: Four-cylinder, 2.4-litre turbodiesel .

Torque: 360 Nm (265 lb ft) at 2000rpm.

Power: 122bhp.

CO2 emissions: 274g/km.

Economy: 22.8mpg combined.

Available: The new Defender went on sale on April 16, but the 130 will not be available until July.