We last saw the Defender concepts at the Frankfurt auto show just last month, where they started the conversation about bringing a new Defender to the world. Land Rover confirmed today that it does intend to launch a new Defender for the global market in 2015.
There are two concepts: the light blue DC100, the traditional hardtop SUV, and the yellow DC100 Sport, which LR press materials tout as an "active expression of freedom and leisure." It's the convertible.
Defenders past have been iconic can-do, go-anywhere vehicles. So it's important to the folks at Land Rover that the new incarnation of the Defender be true to this legacy and remain faithful to the original DNA. The design is simple but distinctive, reminiscent of Defenders past, but manages to be both sleek and somehow still chunky at the same time.
Land Rover still isn't saying if we'll see a production version in North America, but it did say that it's here in L.A. because the company is exploring the possibility of bringing it here. Should it do it? If you're here in California and planning on going to the show, make sure you let them know.
kjgood says:
05:09 AM, 11/18/11
"Defenders past have been iconic can-do, go-anywhere vehicles. So it's important to the folks at Land Rover that the new incarnation of the Defender be true to this legacy and remain faithful to the original DNA."
OK, agreed. So what the heck is L-R thinking about with the (goofy) convertible concept? That vehicle will have just about zero appeal to the Defender-philes. I presume L-R must think they could market this concept to people who sort of like "utility" but also want something that isn't, in fact, very utilitarian. In other words, probably just about no one. Save the effort, L-R, and focus perhaps on improving your dismal reliability record.
Other than the sissy powder blue color of the show car, the hardtop looks more like a worthy successor to, and modern interpretation of, the traditional Defender concept.