There was a time, back in 2011, when we thought Land Rover’s DC100 concepts — revealed in three-door hardtop and open-top guises — might be the new Defender.
The company allowed us to think it held strong clues. Most at Autocar liked it, especially when they let us drive it on the beach in Los Angeles, where we enjoyed its compactness and modernity.
But the DC100 wasn’t the new Defender. It finished up showing what the Defender would not be. While we approved, the Defender faithful emphatically did not. They reckoned it too slight, too small and simply not imposing enough to rule as the new icon. Looking back, especially with the extra insight brought by last year’s end-of-Defender celebrations, they were right.
One thing the DC100 did, though, was to demonstrate that a move towards a greater breadth of function was in the minds of the model’s creators, led by design director Gerry McGovern. However, having been roundly criticised once, McGovern and his team have shown us no more ideas, although there have been plenty. The next one we see will be real and, partly thanks to the DC100, you can bet it’ll look like a true flagship.
Read more: Land Rover Defender DC100 first drive
New Land Rover Defender to be the brand's most high-tech car yet
Join the debate
Add your comment
Good post found here.
Good post found here.
Concept car fails to reach production...
Pretty pathetic of JLR to be
I think the delay is all about preparing owners and lovers of the just departed Defender for the bad news that its replacement will not share any of the charm, ruggedness or simplicity for which it was famous. It will be a squarer looking version of current LR offerings and an urban lifestyle trinket.
I think it's more down to
I think it's more down to