Defender moves to the fore (From The Northern Echo)

Defender moves to the fore

9:51pm Monday 19th September 2011 in Reviews By Matt Westcott

THE Land Rover Defender is, as my grandad might say, older than dirt itself.

It seems to have been traversing ravines and plugging mud since even before the dinosaurs roamed the earth.

In all that time, like the crocodile, evolution has seemingly cast it a sideways glance and then moved on. For while other brands have embraced modernity, it has, in the main, remained stubbornly a relic of the past.

It is a trait that has garnered affection and derision in almost equal measure, but now it's all about to change - and how.

Hot on the heels of the head-turning Evoque, a few weeks ago we were introduced to the DC100 Defender concept and this week we've been hit between the eyes by the Sport version.

Due to replace the current model in a little over three years' time, Land Rover says while their looks are a million miles away from those we are familiar with now, they will retain its "flexibility, adaptability and configurability".

While the DC100 will be capable and versatile, the Sport version will be, the company says, "an active expression of freedom and leisure" - or, as the layman might call it, fun.

Though at the cutting edge of car design, the concepts - and it must be stressed that is exactly what they are at the moment - do hark back to the original in respect of the three abreast 'social seating' layout of the interior.

But that is pretty much where there similarities end.

For example, both cars are made from sustainable materials, used in the aerospace industry, they have permanent four-wheel drive with an eight-speed transmission, intelligent stop and start and a transfer box.

Both are powered by 2.0 litre, four cylinder petrol and diesel engines and will also offer hybrid and plug-in capabilities.

When the going gets tough they can be equipped with what Land Rover calls its Terrain-i scanning device, which warns the driver of obstacles when off-roading and can suggest an alternative way around. Wade Aid uses sonar technology to assess the depth of the water and advise the driver of the best speed to avoid mishaps.

The driver can also deploy a spiked-tyre system at the touch of a button to combat surfaces where grip might be an issue.

The interiors are in keeping with the rest of the company's range, combining practicality with a feeling of quality. One of the quirkier aspects is the ability to remove the central instruments and use them on foot, though just how many drivers are likely to encounter Amazon-style wilderness in their travels is open to debate.

The DC100 - described as a "dependable all-terrain workhorse" and being touted for use by the United Nations and the Red Cross - has an upright windscreen for greater visibility and an interchangeable rear cover to maximise load carrying ability or make room for additional passengers. A winch, capable of supporting the car's weight, is integrated into the front grille and there are towing eyes on each corner. Its roof is equipped with solar panels and its exterior painted silver to reflect the rays of the sun.

The Sport, meanwhile, is said to take its cue from the early canvas-topped Defenders which had fold-down windscreens. For the modern era, this has given way to a wrap-around aero screen and cut down side windows. The interior features a twin-humped fastback tonneau covering the rear seats and load area.

Speaking as the car's were revealed at the Frankfurt motorshow, Land Rover design director, Gerry McGovern, said: "These could not be designs from any other company. Defender became a global icon because of the integrity of both its design and engineering.

"In creating these concepts we took the functional design cues from the past and interpreted them for the 21st century.

"These studies represent our thoughts on how we will forge an entirely new generation of Defender models which will prove that design can work in harmony with function."