Six decades is a very long time – and an eternity if we are talking about cars. Yet that’s the lifespan of the Defender, which was first launched way back in 1949. Over the years, it has been updated numerous times but even so, all versions were built on just two core platforms.
Now even Land Rover admits that the time has come for the current Defender to make way for a brand-new model. The first step is the presentation of not one, but two concepts, the DC100 and DC100 Sport at the Frankfurt Motor Show, both of which preview the production version set to launch in 2015.
The purists adored the original model for its ruggedness and simplicity and over the years bought nearly 2 million units, an estimated three-quarters of which are still in service. Land Rover Director, John Edwards, reassured them during the presentation of the concepts that its character will remain unchanged.
“The Defender was lover the world over for its simple, honest and distinctive design,” says Edwards. “We are determined that the new Defender will be true to its heritage while meeting the requirements of a changing global market.”
The two concepts are essentially the fixed-roof (DC100) and open-top version (DC100 Sport) of the same car, sharing the platform, the three-abreast classic Defender seating arrangement and tech bits. The latter includes items like the Terrain-I scanning device that warns drivers of obstacles when off-roading, a Wade Aid sonar to asses water depth and advise the driver of the right speed, and a spike tire system that the driver can activate by touching a button.
While all of the above sound very futuristic for the production version, we find many other features that will make it on the roadgoing model such as the new generation Terrain Response system that changes the car’s drivetrain and suspension settings to optimize its performance on any environment.
A 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine motivates the DC100, while the more performance-orientated DC100 Sport gets a petrol unit with the same displacement for a sportier drive. Land Rover said that both engines are capable of being configured as parallel or plug-in hybrids.
An eight-speed automatic transmission and a permanent four-wheel drive system with a Driveline Disconnect feature that decouples the rear axle when AWD isn’t needed in order to improve fuel consumption, can be found on both the DC100 and the open-top DC100 Sport.
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