Modern design for Land Rover Defender

Sep 7, 2011, 4:06 GMT

Frankfurt - Land Rover is giving a glimpse of the new Defender that is expected to hit the road in 2015 by presenting the concept car DC 100 at the Frankfurt Motor Show which appears to be a work in progress designed to test public reaction.

Since the first Defender made its appearance in 1948, the British manufacturer has stuck to the original design, making only subtle changes with the most radical change coming in 1983 when coil springs were introduced for a more comfortable ride.

The title 'Defender' only came in 1990 instead of the Land Rover Ninety or One Ten. Most fans however affectionately describe it as the 'Landy.'

What Land Rover calls a completely new construction for 2015 will also be called the Defender with images of the new design revealing large newly designed wheels and angular headlights.

'Replacing the iconic Defender is one of the biggest challenges in the automotive design world,' says Land Rover's director of design Gerry McGovern, adding that 'this isn't a production-ready concept but the beginning of a four-year journey to design a relevant Defender for the 21st century.'