Land Rover Presents Two Defender Concepts in Frankfurt, the DC100 and the DC100 Sport

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.

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Project Kahn Recreates Land Rover's Frankfurt-Bound Defender DC100 Concept

While Land Rover will be testing the design waters for the next generation of the iconic Defender with its DC100 Concept in Frankfurt, British tuning firm Project Kahn is already imagining ways of enhancing and personalizing the potential replacement for the automaker's most famous model through some photoshop wizardry.

Project Kahn dreamed up four different variants of the DC100, the first of which simply features a white paint job along with the tuning firm's trademark multispoke alloy wheels finished in black.

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Land Rover Previews the Future of the Defender with Frankfurt-Bound DC100 Concept

The Land Rover Defender is without doubt, one of the most renowned and recognizable off-road models in the world, which makes designing a replacement model an extremely challenging task, to say the least.

But the British automaker, which is now under the control of India's Tata Motors, believes it's time to move on and prepare fans of the vehicle and consumers alike for the next generation of its iconic Defender with the presentation of the DC100 concept that will bow in Frankfurt next month.

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Vilner Poshes Up Classic Land Rover Defenders for "Russian Oligarch"

Land Rover's timeless Defender is a rugged, durable and extremely capable off roader, and as such, it falls behind when it comes to luxury. But where there's a will (and plenty of cash to go around…) there's a way.

Vilner, which is a Bulgarian design studio, said it was approached by a "Russian oligarch" (a.k.a. a business magnate) who wanted to turn the wick up on a short- and long-wheelbase Land Rover Defender by customizing their interiors.

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Land Rover reveals the new 2012 Defender and new diesel engine

A new EU5 2.2-litre diesel engine replaces the EU4 2.4-litre diesel for 2011, bringing greater levels of performance and refinement to the 2012 Defender. The smaller capacity engine delivers the same power, torque and economy as its outgoing unit but makes this the cleanest Land Rover Defender yet produced. In EU5 markets, the new engine comes with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) to ensure the lowest possible levels of regulated emissions.



The Defender can trace its roots back to 1948 and during that period Land Rovers have earned a reputation as the most rugged and versatile off-road vehicles in the world. Since the current model's introduction in 2007, the Defender has consistently sold an average of 25,000 units a year worldwide. Retail and utility customers, armed forces and NGOs in over 100 countries believe that the Defender's off-road ability, durability and towing capability are still head and shoulders above the competition. Such a unique combination of attributes explains why this legendary vehicle commands such exceptionally high standards of customer loyalty.







"The substantial improvements to the Defender in 2007 transformed its on-road refinement and comfort whilst extending its legendary capability off-road for which Defender is synonymous. With the introduction of the new 2.2-litre diesel engine and two option packs, the Defender for 2012 now offers greater customer choice than ever before," said John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director.



Smaller, cleaner diesel engine for 2012

The new EU5 2.2-litre diesel engine replaces the EU4 2.4-litre diesel while matching it for power, torque and fuel consumption. A new, full acoustic engine cover replaces the previous splash cover, reducing radiated engine noise and improving driving refinement. Meeting EU5 regulations, the engine delivers lower levels of the regulated emissions, NOx, CO and HC thanks to an improved combustion system and sophisticated engine management system. In



EU5 markets, particulate matter has been reduced to EU5 levels with a diesel particulate filter (DPF).



Despite the smaller capacity and reduced emissions, the new engine produces the same power, 122PS@3,500rpm and torque, 360Nm@2,000rpm, as the outgoing 2.4-litre engine. Performance remains similar too, though the top speed has been raised to 90mph compared to 82mph for the previous version. CO2 emissions on the combined cycle are consistent at 266g/km for the 90 and 295g/km for the 110 and 130.



The GFT MT 82 six-speed gearbox has been retained for 2012 with its excellent ratio spread, high top gear for cruising and enhanced low-speed crawl capability. The lower first gear offers low crawl speed making towing on-road and off-road much easier. The low-down engine torque also helps in-gear acceleration and the tall sixth gear ensures excellent real-world cruising, refinement and fuel economy. Ground gears in both the gearbox and transfer box help contribute to the refinement of the transmission.





Two new option packs

- Comfort Pack - Air conditioning, CD Player with auxiliary input, electric windows and remote central locking. The Comfort Pack costs £1650.

- Off-Road Pack - ABS, heavy duty rim and MTR tyre, tow ball and under-ride protection bar. The Off-Road Pack costs £1500.



In response to customer feedback, a plain black Pick Up hood will now be available as an option whilst a plain beige hood will be introduced for the 110 Double Cab Pick Up. Both options are in addition to existing styles. A further enhancement for 2012 includes the addition of tinted glass on all models.



The Defender's facia is based on a single, large moulding supported on a robust steel rail to help eliminate squeaks and rattles. The instruments provide clear, concise information to the driver, and details like all-LED instrument illumination help ensure high standards of reliability. Versatile stowage shelves are conveniently located for both the driver and passenger and two console options are available: a practical open-tray design that keeps contents to hand and a large, lidded design that provides an impressive 14-litres of stowage.



A powerful heating and ventilation system is designed to cope with the most extreme climates and features aluminium plate and fin heat exchangers to deliver impressive performance.



Tall front seats are designed to improve maximum back support and head restraint ergonomics in the most demanding driving conditions and there are robust, supportive second row seats too. 110 Station Wagon and 130 Crew Cab models can comfortably accommodate three occupants on an asymmetrically-split second row seat. A spring-assisted fold mechanism helps when folding the seats for carrying large or awkward loads.



Defender 90 Station Wagon second row occupants benefit from a pair of individual, full-size, forward-facing rear seats. Providing excellent comfort levels, these seats are also available as a third row option on the 110 Station Wagon. Accessed either through the rear door or by folding the second row seats, they can be easily folded and stowed sideways in the loadspace.



Seat trims include durable all-vinyl and cloth specifications; a half-leather option is also included in the XS specification available on Station Wagon and 110 Double Cab Pick-Up derivatives to add a touch of luxury to the cabin. Three-point safety belts are specified for all seating positions.



Defender's unique vehicle architecture has been retained for 2012. The chassis frame is available in three different wheelbases. A total of 14 separate body styles – from pick-ups and soft-tops to crew cabs and station wagons – are produced on the mainstream production line.



The 2012 Defender is available from £20,995 on the road and will be on-sale in the UK from November 2011.



| Land Rover

Land Rover Defender 2007 pictures

*UPDATE: FOR OFFICIAL PICTURES AND INFO, CKICKE HERE: 2007 LAND ROVER DEFENDER

As reported earlier this year (click here: 2007 Defender), Land Rover is planning to update its nearly immortal Defender which has been in production with various upgrades since 1948 -talk about British infatuation with the past… These phone cell pictures taken from Land Rover's Solihull factory in Birmingham give a first glimpse of the 2007 Defender which according to Land Rover, is going to on sale next spring. While its seems that the exterior remains practically the same as there are only minor changes -check out the side gills, the interior gets a more serious upgrade with Discovery (LR2 & LR3) style gauges, air vents etc.

Press Release: "Customer demand for the Defender will see Land Rover release details of a new model for 2007 later this year, including a series of significant upgrades to enhance the ownership experience and meet forthcoming legislation. It starts going on sale next spring and will help ensure that the Defender remains in production until at least 2010."

Official: 2007 Land Rover Defender

The granddaddy of all "Landies" the Defender, was presented officially today in its 2007 suite. The latest in a long line of evolutionary updates to a vehicle whose roots date back to 1948 (since when nearly 1.9 million units have been sold), the 2007 model year boasts a newly designed interior with a Discovery LR3 styled fascia and a new 2.4 litre four-cylinder diesel engine that's matted to an also new, 6speed gearbox.

Changes to the Defender's exterior have been kept to a minimum as the only visual hint to the 2007 model is the revised bonnet profile. The Defender will make its first public debut at the 2006 Paris Motor Show in September.

Press Release

More Pulling Power: Defender's new 2.4 litre, four-cylinder engine draws on parent company Ford's acknowledged diesel engine expertise, and represents a major step forward in terms of refinement and driveability. Torque output is higher than the outgoing engine right across the usable rev range, and the 360 Nm (265 lb ft) peak is delivered at only 2000 rpm; over 315 Nm (232 lb ft) of torque is available from 1500 rpm to 2700 rpm.

Engine peak power output is 122 PS (90 kW), with more than 90 per cent of peak power available from less than 2200 rpm to over 4350 rpm -over 60 per cent of the usable rev range. Naturally, in European markets (with high quality diesel fuels), the new engine is designed to be fully compliant with EU4 emissions legislation. But with Defender's status as a truly global product, a unique engine tune has also been developed to tolerate variable quality, high-sulphur fuels.

Based on a cast-iron block, the engine features an alloy, 16-valve cylinder head with Denso common rail fuel injection. Not only is combustion noise dramatically reduced, thanks to the excellent control provided by the engine's solenoid-driven fuel injectors, but a new Garrett variable geometry turbocharger also helps ensure throttle response is improved over the outgoing engine. The engine's lubrication and sealing systems have been specially developed to cope with Defender's onerous range of operating angles.

6speed Gearbox: The new GFT MT 82 six-speed gearbox provides a much wider ratio spread than before; the lower first gear offers a reduction in crawl speed and combines with the engine's increased torque output to make towing on-road and off-road even easier. The increased engine torque also helps in-gear acceleration, and has allowed the new sixth gear to be set 20 per cent higher than the outgoing model's top gear. This helps to improve real-world cruising refinement and fuel economy. Ground gears in both the gearbox and new transfer box help boost refinement, while reductions in clutch and gear-change loads make day-to-day living with Defender significantly easier.

Individual pedal maps specifically matched to the demands of each gear are designed to ensure throttle progression and control is better than ever before; in addition, improved anti-stall characteristics further extend the vehicle's renowned ability to tackle the toughest terrain.

Improved Comfort And Ergonomics: Defender's new facia is based on a single, large moulding supported on a robust steel rail to help eliminate squeaks and rattles. Instruments from Land Rover's Discovery 3 provide clear, concise information to the driver, and details like all-LED instrument illumination help ensure high standards of reliability. Improvements to ergonomics abound -for example, a new passenger-side grab handle provides robust, two-handed support during extreme off-road driving. The process of modernising Defender's facia hasn't sacrificed its usability either, with versatile stowage shelves conveniently located for both the driver and passenger. Two console options are available: a practical open-tray design that keeps contents to hand and a large, lidded design that provides an impressive 14-litres of stowage.

In-Car Entertainment Systems: For the first time, high-mounted tweeters are available in Defender and work in conjunction with the new speaker installation for significantly improved clarity and sound reproduction. An auxiliary/MP3 audio input socket is also available.

New Heating And Ventilation System: Cabin airflow is up almost 50 per cent, with new aluminium plate and fin heat exchangers helping deliver impressive performance. In cold weather, the heater warms the cabin 40 per cent quicker than before and can achieve cabin temperatures a full 12C higher. The air-conditioning system can cool the cabin in half the time of the old unit, and achieve cabin temperatures 7C lower too. The addition of side window demist vents helps maintain visibility whatever the weather.

Seating: Seating is also comprehensively improved. New, taller front seats are designed to improve back support and head restraint ergonomics. Robust, more supportive second row seats are introduced too. 110 Station Wagon and 130 Crew Cab models can comfortably accommodate three occupants on a new, asymmetrically-split second row seat. A spring-assisted fold mechanism helps when folding the seats for carrying large or awkward loads.

Defender 90 Station Wagon second row occupants benefit from a pair of individual, full-size, forward-facing rear seats. Providing significantly increased comfort and space over the outgoing model, these seats are also available as a third row option on the 110 Station Wagon. Accessed either through the rear door or by folding the second row seats, they can be easily folded and stowed sideways in the loadspace.

Seat trims include durable all-vinyl and cloth specifications; a half-leather option is also available to add a touch of luxury to the new cabin. Three-point safety belts are specified for all seating positions. Upgraded sound insulation, the common rail engine's excellent combustion control and the significantly higher top gear all contribute to a substantial overall improvement in cabin refinement.

Land Rover upgrading the Defender for 2007

Customer demand for the Defender will see Land Rover release details of a new model for 2007 later this year, including a series of significant upgrades to enhance the ownership experience and meet forthcoming legislation. It starts going on sale next spring and will help ensure that the Defender remains in production until at least 2010.

The extension to the long life of Defender, which has been in production in various models since 1948, will preserve more than 750 jobs at the Solihull factory where it is produced alongside the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Discovery 3. Work is also underway to see if there are opportunities to extend Defender's life beyond 2010.

Annual production of Defender has remained consistent at around 25,000 units in recent years, with much of the demand coming from large contract orders. For example, the Italian energy distribution company, Ente Nazionale Elettricita, recently placed an order for over 900 Defenders.

"With sales growth forecast in 2006, Defender remains a significant contributor to the business as well as an enduring symbol of Land Rover's 4x4 heritage," said Phil Popham, Land Rover's Managing Director. "Its simple concept hasn't changed fundamentally over the years, but it remains as relevant as ever.

Defender continues to play a vital role for emergency services, aid workers and farmers around the world. As we grow Land Rover we're not forgetting our core values and our traditional customers."

With a rugged ladder-frame box-section chassis and aluminium bodywork, the Defender is incredibly tough. Its practical advantages include its unmatched combination of off-road supremacy, carrying capacity and towing capability.

The Defender name was introduced in 1990 but the model is a direct descendant of the original Land Rover introduced in 1948. Production of Defender and its predecessors has passed 1.8 million and it is estimated that over two thirds of them are still in use.