New Land Rover Defender DC100 Concept
Land Rover previews the next Generation Land Rover defender with the DC100 Concept which will debut at Frankfurt.
What to do with the Land Rover Defender is something which has been taxing minds at LR for some time. And the Land Rover DC100 Concept – heading to Frankfurt – is the first stab at publicly showing the direction in which they’re heading.
The Dc100 is very much a first draft; an early look at the direction Land Rover are heading with the next generation of the sixty year old Defender. What it doesn’t do is tell us what Land Rover intends to put under the skin.
It still seems likely that Land Rover will make use of the existing T5 chassis – as we predicted two years ago – to underpin a future Defender and offer a range of yet-to-be-developed, in-house Tata 4-pots – and maybe the V6 diesel.
The T5 chassis – which is the current underpinnings for the Discovery and RRS – is the most able of the Land Rover chassis, even if it does weigh slightly more than the moon, and would be a fine step up for the Defender in 2015.
It would endow the new Defender with all the abilities of the current Defender – including all the body type variations needed – but add in proper off-road comfort and on-road manners.
That said – and if things keep rolling in JLR’s direction – Tata may decide to invest in a new platform to underpin the Defender. And it would have to be new, because the next generation of platforms for Land Rover’s more road-oriented products probably won’t cut the mustard in proper ‘Middle of Nowhere in the Jungle or Desert’ settings.
But there’s a way to go before they need to decide on the underpinnings – although with a launch of 2015 planned, not too long – but they do have longer to decide how the next generation Defender should look. John Edwards, Land Rover’s Global Brand Director, said:
“Loved the world over for its simple, honest and distinctive design, we are determined that the new Defender will be true to its heritage, while meeting the requirements of a changing global market.
We plan to engage with existing and potential customers to help us finalise the details of the new vehicle. One thing’s for sure, it’s going to be an exciting journey, and we can’t wait to get going.
We’re not too sure about the DC100; it looks more like a cartoon Defender than the real-deal. In profile it’s going in the right direction, but the front end looks very ‘First Effort’. It just doesn’t say ’21st century Land Rover’; it looks more like a Chines effort at a Defender ‘Homage’.
What do you think?
New Land Rover Defender DC100 Concept Photo Gallery
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(click image for full size version)
TONY PROCTER says
It’s a start, (how has it now been pushed out to 2015??) I dont mind it in side profile, and think the long wheel base would look even better, but the front end is hideous currently, lacks the tough, ruggedness of the D3/4 clamshell bonnet and squared off headlights, the Discovery has a better face currently, as does the Rangie.
A bit cartoon like also, like a Tonka toy, too many of these going around already with the FJ Cruiser, Wrangler and Hummers, it needs to be a car the Queen can be seen in, aswell as Architects, Field surveyors, Security forces, Unicef, Oxfam, The Bushtucker man etc etc, more understated ruggedness than fashionista, and more trademan (upmarket 79 series) like, less Bob the Builder, otherwise leave it to die a dignified death and i’ll start buying Toyotas instead as much as it breaks my heart to say it.
Wire Donkey says
The design reminds me of a Skoda Yeti, which is not necessarily a bad thing, as the Skoda Yeti is very good.
PhilipJH says
Good spot.
I knew it looked familiar and the Yeti could be what I saw, which is good for the Yeti but a less so for the Defender!!
Dteamer says
I looked at the new Defender image yesterday and didn’t like it. But it’s grown on me. The problem is that without those big wheels – which would be completely useless on a real Defender – it would look just like a third-world effort at plagiarising the whole Defender/Jeep/G-Wagon iconic thing.
Percy says
Really good to see Land Rover comtinuing the Defender. Not sure the design is right (it looks too Oriental) but the desire to get the Defender right is commendable.