Big article on the BBC website about a new Defender model for 2015.

Any comments? the picture shows it in white??? 2002 Honda VFR800
2002 Toyota Celica 140 Silver (mid life crisis - again!)
2007 FL2 GS Manual Army Reconnaissance Green + freel2.com sticker
2004 Toyota Celica 140 Black - Gone
2000 Toyota Celica 140 Silver - Gone
1998 Toyota Celica ST Pearl Green - Gone
1996 Nissan Primera 1.6 - Gone
1994 Rover Montego 1.6 Auto - Gone

I want one! Just seen the pics too

Looks a little bling, less hard working than the current defender,

Looks a bit like a yeti too  Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

It is very yeti like!

good pics here:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/frankfur...-2015.aspx FL2 GS Auto '58reg

article from autocar:

The Land Rover DC100 concept will star at the Frankfurt motor show next month – and the dramatic design proposal could form the basis of the replacement for the iconic 4x4 Defender model.

The company has confirmed that its next-generation Defender will go into production in 2015, 67 years after the original was unveiled.

See pictures of Land Rover's DC100 concept

Land Rover says the DC100 is just a pointer to future. The concept, it says, “builds upon essential elements of the Defender’s character and allows us to open the debate and inspire people to dream about Defenders of the future”.

Gerry McGovern, director of design for Land Rover, said: “Replacing the iconic Defender is one of the biggest challenges in the automotive design world; it is a car that inspires people worldwide. The DC100 isn’t a production-ready concept, but the beginning of a four-year journey to design a relevant Defender for the 21st century.”

John Edwards, global brand director, said: “We are determined the new Defender will be true to its heritage, while meeting the requirements of an all-new global market. We plan to engage with existing and potential customers to help us finalise the details of the new vehicle.”

Edwards earlier this year noted that the company’s ‘brand vision’ was to be the “gold standard of the SUV market… our core DNA is design, capability and versatility”.

Edwards and his team believe that the global SUV market can be divided into three main segments: Luxury, Leisure and Utility.

Luxury, exemplified by the Range Rover, should reach two million units per year globally across the segment by 2017; Leisure, where the Freelander resides, should hit eight million vehicles, while Utility, in which today’s Defender competes, should achieve 3.3 million units.

However, the Defender shifted just 18,500 units in 2010, a figure that shows just how far the core Land Rover brand has fallen behind utility vehicles produced by Toyota and Mitsubishi. Part of the reason is the loss of markets such as Africa and Australia because of the poor reliability record of the Defender’s predecessors, especially in the face of competition from the seemingly bullet-proof Toyota Land Cruiser models.

Land Rover bosses also have to decided on the type of platform that will be used to underpin the new model. Two options have been considered, including re-engineering the heavy-but-rugged T5 that underpins today’s Discovery and Range Rover Sport, a move that would save considerable investment in a new platform and production line.

The T5 might be a better choice if Land Rover decides the Defender replacement is not to be a totally stripped out, developing-world special.

The other option is to build an all-new platform, which might be warranted if the new Defender family extends to include pick-up and extended wheelbase cars, but this would add greatly to production costs.

Jaguar Land Rover already has three UK factories, but is moving to produce one platform at each plant. Halewood will specialise in the new transverse-engined LR-MS steel platform (used by the Evoque) and Solihull in the large aluminium platform cars (including the next Range Rover models and the future Jaguar XJ). Castle Bromwich is expected to make the Jag XKE and XK aluminium sports cars and possibly a small aluminium platform for future Jaguars.

Adding in an all-new platform would require factory space, and storage and inventory control for a completely different components set.

However, overseas production in India, China, Brazil or Russia — all growth markets for Land Rover — cannot be ruled out. FL2 GS Auto '58reg

There's something effeminate about the body styling that I don't like.

Maybe between now and launch LR will get enough feedback from show previews that my reservations are dispelled by the time it actually goes on sale.

Oh no. Here in AU (and other places I believe), Toyota have released a new 'FJ Cruiser', which is supposed to be a modern take on the old J40 model. They are shown bottom and top on the following image.



I despise the FJ Cruiser. It looks terrible in my view yet people seem to love it. The front and rear lights are much more 'sticky-out' than the image shows.

This concept looks a lot like Land Rover's version of the FJ Cruiser. I actually like it though. Maybe I am just being loyal to the brand though. 1st time FL2 owner. 2007 SE i6 in Tambora Flame.

sweetfreedom wrote:

good pics here:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/frankfur...-2015.aspx

quite like the side view, as a concept. maybe in a dark colour and manned-up abit it could look good

seriously hate the front view though! FL2 GS Auto '58reg

WTF A TWO DOOR! I suppose it is just a concept car best if it stays that way but given what LR are producing now (The Ewok ) looks like the LR marque is going down the pan. please LR stick to making cars that are functional leave the poser cars to BMW Mercedes Jag et al because you will lose. oo! Shiney!
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55 Nissan Navara SE Black - My Toy.
08 Freelander 2 XS Santorini Black - Her Majesty's Toy.

The point about the defeder is its simplicity and it basicness that when it gets scratched it doesn't bother the owner that much. This new design is too modern and seems to have to many frills and eye-catching novelties.

The problem with modern and novelties is that it's fine now but old-fashioned in 5 years. Old defenders from way back don't look that old as new defenders still look very much like them.

They should make it a lot more basic and less Jeep-like.

That is a Kia Soul look alike

zone30 wrote:

The point about the defeder is its simplicity and it basicness that when it gets scratched it doesn't bother the owner that much. This new design is too modern and seems to have to many frills and eye-catching novelties.

The problem with modern and novelties is that it's fine now but old-fashioned in 5 years. Old defenders from way back don't look that old as new defenders still look very much like them.

They should make it a lot more basic and less Jeep-like.

The diplomatic version of what I said  oo! Shiney!
____________________________________________
55 Nissan Navara SE Black - My Toy.
08 Freelander 2 XS Santorini Black - Her Majesty's Toy.

dpcwright wrote:

That is a Kia Soul look alike

Absolutely spot on Google Kia Soul on Images and there it is.....