FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Defender rediscovers daring
Open-top concept lifts the lid on design ideals for new Land Rover DefenderWe've seen official images of the new Defender DC100 concept ready for this week's Frankfurt motor show but the British off-road brand has another surprise in store for visitors to the world's biggest motor show.
Designers have recalled Land Rover's all-terrain reputation with the striking DC100 Sport concept, an open top vehicle that incorporates design cues from early Defender models which had fold-down windscreens "that typified the Land Rover spirit of adventure..."
We particularly like the new specifications Land Rover has assigned to the Sport concept. The Surfer Spec, for example, features a waterproof interior and surf break navigation system to help you find the best wave action!
The radical open-top concept is designed to convey "an active expression of freedom and leisure" and is unlikely to see production form -- at least with a Land Rover badge. However, during the launch of the Range Rover Evoque, company executives revealed they would have liked to offer "another body style" in addition to the five-door and segment-breaking three-door Coupe models.
The thoroughly modern-looking DC100 Concept (second image) implies Land Rover is ready to make big changes to its 60 year-old stalwart. The company confirmed a new Defender would be released in 2015 when it unveiled this year's concept model.
Much like the Evoque concept shown in Detroit back in 2008, the DC100 looks ready to go and is complete with the latest in the brand's offroad innovations; in this case called Terrain-i and Wade Aid. According to the marketing spiel it's these elements that "reinforce Land Rover's reputation for functional all-terrain vehicles".
The DC100 and DC100 Sport concepts use 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel engines coupled with eight-speed autos featuring stop-start functionality. For show purposes, the concepts wear big 22-inch wheels.
Jaguar and Land Rover have a lot to say this week at Frankfurt. Visit motoring.com.au for more news direct from this year's Frankfurt motor show.
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