Despite receiving some updates for 2013, which consist mainly of two new colors, new seats and an audio system, the Defender’s replacement is long overdue.
Land Rover, of course, knows this very well; as a matter of fact, it hopes that the next Defender will do for the brand, in terms of image and sales, what the Evoque has done for its Range Rover luxury sub-division: become a sales hit, bring new buyers to the brand and update its image.
The DC100 concept displayed at last year’s Frankfurt Motor Show hinted at the direction the new Defender might take. Even though it was very well received, it might not be the definite article, though.
Land Rover design director told British publication Autocar that, since then, various different concepts have been developed in addition to the DC100 for the new Defender that is due “in the middle of the decade”.
McGovern also revealed that the new model will be quite different compared to the original, which has spun six decades. “A like-for-like replacement for the Defender would not be appropriate and wouldn’t be legal with safety legislation”, he said. “We can still capture the essence of the past but in a modern way.”
According to McGovern, what Land Rover needs is “a new Defender for a new generation, so it has to be relevant and desirable to a modern audience”. At the same time, however, he insists that it will retain certain attributes of the legendary off-roader: “It has to have the essence of the Defender. James Bond needs to be able to kick the hell out of it and it will still be able to get up for more.”
By Andrew Tsaousis
10 Comments:
I love it, beautiful design, looks especially good in red. It is something of a copy of Toyota's approach, but Toyota embrace the future before anyone else with their off-road line. If I were in the market for one, it would be between the Land Rover and the Toyota.
Love the chrome tow loops, they look great and are a functional necessity for off roading
the top half of the car looks like the honda element, but the rest of the car looks like nothing else on the road - which is good
I love it too, but Defender was this utility work horse for farmers and such, all that bling will make it expensive and impractical for that purpose.
Way more Toyota than Land Rover. This design pays -0- homage to the Defender. A modern interpretation of a classic Defender is the route they should have gone but oh well another missed opportunity. They never really allowed imports of the Defender into the states in the past - all gray market. I'll wait on the upcoming Range Rover Sport RS.
Looked at it and saw a new Toyota.
Showed it to my girlfriend, she saw a new Toyota.
Showed to a friend, he saw a Toyota.
That can't be what you are striving for when you are about to replace one of the biggest icons in motoring history. Don't. do. this.
skoda yeti
I was thinking more Skoda Yeti actually
I like it, but I don't think it'll make a good Defender replacement. Call it something else. I also don't see the likes of the British Army buying these. In which case which market is LR targeting with this vehicle and is it viable?
I agree with below - it may be a good Land Rover, but not a Defender replacement. I also agree with the Toyota seers... and Dont. do. this. :)
There ought to be a better way to modernise the Defender without being to bloody radical about it? Sure, it's square and "clunky", but that's the nature of an off-roader - it has to be square, so you know exactly where the edges are - could you get through that gap in the woods or between those stones? And - if you hit the tree or the stones, it shouldn't sheer off all that plastic (which seems to be the style of a modern cross-over?). The current Freelander is a good role-model - square and not too much plastic sticking out everywhere.
Look - a good offroader needs to have parts that are simple to change in the field, with a minimum of tools, an engine that's "bulletproof", possibility of adding winches and auxiliaries like rooftop equipment, ladders, shovels, snow-chains. That wheel behind the car is maybe not the best position, but OK, reachable in the field.
I don't know why this car, nice as it is, doesn't tweak my off-road senses. It just looks and feels too vulnerable and too sensitive to scratches and dents.
Looks like someone copied the Kia Soul, not impressed, not impressed at all!!
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