1997 Defender 90's:Since there was no 1996 model year for the Land Rover Defender, and Rover took this time to make major design changes for the 1997 model year.There were 1499 Soft Tops and 1300 Station Wagons produced for the United States in 1997. This model offered customers an upgraded engine, utomatic transmission, edesigned center console and air conditioning. The new power train offered was a 4.0 Liter V-8 engine mated with a four speed ZF Automatic transmission. This Soft Top Model offers a single forward facing bench seat allowing two rear passengers.1997 was the final year that Land Rover produced the Defender for the North American market.