Land Rover has already announced plans to replace the Defender with a brand-new model in four years from now. It has even displayed not one, but two such concepts named DC100 at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show, previewing the 4×4 model’s successor in three-door form.
This, however, does not mean that the current Defender, which traces its roots back original Land Rover Series launched in 1948, will be discontinued.
British magazine Autocar reports that the long-wheelbase 110 and commercial 130 versions will remain in production even after the new short-wheelbase model is launched.
A source from within Land Rover said, “There are a number of changes to the legislation, which mean that we can keep the current Defender in production longer than we thought.”
Therefore, the iconic British 4×4 will remain in production at least until 2017, perhaps even longer. It may even not have to meet stricter EU6 emission standards to its classification as a commercial vehicle – but even if it does, it can always be fitted with Land Rover’s EU6-compliant 2.2-liter turbodiesel.
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