New Defender Concept From Land Rover
Will they, won't they..? Maybe it's up to you...
Land Rover Defender enthusiasts may want to look away now, for this
a) is
b) may be
c) isn't
how the future's going to look when the existing 'iconic' Defender is put out to grass and replaced in 2015.
Eh?
Well, to quote Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern, this new Land Rover DC100 (scheduled for introduction at the Frankfurt motor show later this month) "isn't a production-ready concept but the beginning of a four year journey to design a relevant Defender for the 21st century".
Which roughly translated means, should everyone hate it, Gerry and the firm have a handy get-out clause. Funnily enough, here at PH Towers, we're split down the middle.
Half of our crew think the DC100 is too much a variation on the shopping-mall SUV theme. Its plasticky lines are toy-like, affected, and... well, can you imagine it with shotgun cartridges rolling around the footwells, a load of fence posts in the back, reeking of wet dogs, and that last pair of bagged rabbits giving you flea bites round the ankles when you drive it?
The other half think that it's 'cool' and 'stylish' and exactly the car they wanted the next Defender to be - and therein lies the dilemma facing Land Rover and Mr McGovern.
There's only one way to sort this out - cast your vote now on the infamous PH O'Meter. We know the Land Rover product development team will be watching...
Meanwhile, here's some random 'background' imagery courtesy (mainly) of the Land Rover names registry. Now that's what a proper Landie should... (Oh, stop it! Ed.)
Worry less about design and more about practical, tough materials. People will buy the Evoque, Discovery, Defender, Freelander etc etc if they want a pleasant or luxurious vehicle
But I thought the raison d'etre of a Defender was as an unpretentious go anywhere tool.
Form should follow function with a Defender and this just looks like a Suzuki Jimny on steroids.
I guess I would need to see it in standard form with standard sized 16" steel wheels.
Oh and Gerry where are the visible pop rivets?
Personally I think it looks like a proper 4x4 Fiat Panda and it would have been better to see a concept that was designed for the jungle rather than Kings Road.
I like the idea of seeing it with a snorkle, tread plates, roof rack, steel wheels, etc.
How long does everyone expect the defender in current state to go on for? If LR say it needs replacing then this must be for good reason.
I'm sure they are very mindful of the defenders current roles and won't want to lose that business also.
I think the concept looks good with strong defender tones to it. As a starting point, for replacing an iconic vehicle it's not bad.
also looking at the roof there seems to be a suggestion that a truck cab could be fitted thus giving you a pick up option ....
if so, then i say it looks ok as a first thought drawn on the back of a cigarette pack -
Just because the car is modern design, doesn't mean that it isn't capable of being caked in mud, having your shotgun cartridges rolling around the foot wells and your wet stinking Labrador in the back.....
I'm sorry but a LOT (not all) of Defender owners buy them because of some 'Retro cool' image!
We buy a defender because it is a off road king.
Plus its cool as fook.
I have absolutely no doubt that that car could easily traverse that sort of terrain, but only whilst sustaining several thousands pounds worth of body damage in the process.
If you really use your Defender off road (and am am looking at a small minority (Farmers/military/enthusiasts etc) then having a small square sided vehicle, with minimum overhangs, and those overhangs that do exist end in a nice steel bumper or cross member so you can get a high lift jack under them etc
If you've ever been witness to a RRS doing the "rock gulley" run on the Gaydon Off Road facility, you will know what i mean. 1 wrong move, and crunch you get a £5k bill (the car is perfectly capable of traversing the run, but the driver is unlikely to be a "up" for the challange..... ;-)
This is the essence of the problem for JLR, just how utilitarian do they make it ????
and you are going to ruin it! and then you moan that the UK has no great cars left!
isnt it obvious! you always figure a way out to screw them up!
A defender has to remain simple, rugged and flexible, something that you can bodge up in a barn(much like the Series 1,2,3 and the lightweights). If you want a plastic piece of junk you can buy a freelander, an evogue, a new disco, but not the Defender!!!
And not too many of the drivers looked like they were preparing for a dessert expedition, jungle exploring or out back adventure.
Looking at the concept again. Take away some of the concept touches and you have a valid replacement already. Sure there could be variations, even a stripped out basic interior version for those wanting to put a gorilla inside from their jungle adventures.
As others have said already, it doesn't look anywhere near 'modular' enough to take the knocks and dents. Perhaps they have cleverly figured out ohow to make panels easily replaceable, without external fasteners, but I'm still not sure it's right.
Either way, people hate change. Just improve the interior and mechanicals and keep churning out the same shape. Maybe add a few rounder edges.
and you are going to ruin it! and then you moan that the UK has no great cars left!
isnt it obvious! you always figure a way out to screw them up!
A defender has to remain simple, rugged and flexible, something that you can bodge up in a barn(much like the Series 1,2,3 and the lightweights). If you want a plastic piece of junk you can buy a freelander, an evogue, a new disco, but not the Defender!!!
Why does it have such big wheel arches? What's with those wheels? Presumably they have put those on because they look 'cool'. I think it shows exactly what's wrong with this concept. Stop trying to make it look modern and cool. It should be functional, basic, strong. As others say, Land Rover have plenty of other vehicles that look funky and modern.
Having said that, the 'new mini' was nothing like the proper one, erasing most things that made that what it was and that still did OK. Shame, really.
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