Given that since June 2008, Indian conglomerate Tata owns Land Rover, the presence of the British firm’s DC100 concepts that preview a replacement for the iconic Defender at the 2012 New Delhi Auto Show was a certainty.
The Defender Concept 100 and Defender Concept 100 Sport, as the three-door hardtop and open-top versions are named respectively, are identical to the revised models launched at the 2011 Los Angeles Motor Show save for a couple of differences.
More specifically, they both sport a “Firenze Red” body color with a white roof for the fixed-top version and new-design alloy wheels, still at 20-inches in diameter and wrapped around in Cooper all-terrain tires.
Land Rover Director John Edwards commented: “Our ambition is to create an all new Defender for the global market that remains absolutely faithful to its original DNA: tough, versatile, durable and capable. At the same time, it will be developed for the 21st century and adaptable for the needs of future generations.”
Like the two previous versions that were displayed at last year’s Frankfurt and LA Motor Shows, both models are powered by 2.0-liter engines, the DC100 by a diesel and the DC100 by a gasoline engine that transmit power to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The concepts also feature Land Rover’s Terrain Response system along with an array of new features, like sonar sensors that measure water depth and a 3D-mapping navigation system that can identify potential hazards and suggest alternative routes off road, and pedestrians and other obstacles in urban environment.
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