Land Rover reveals DC100 concept

Land Rover has revealed the DC100 concept, a dramatic design proposal that could form the basis of the replacement for the iconic 4x4 Defender model.  This concept will be displayed at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show.  

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.”

Land Rover bosses also have to decide 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 completely different components set. However, overseas production in India, China, Brazil or Russia — all growth markets for Land Rover — cannot be ruled out.

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