DC100 debuts at Los Angeles
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 17 November 2011 18:51
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Land Rover's DC100 and DC100 Sport concepts investigate the potential design direction for a replacement for the iconic Defender. They made their North American debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show on 16th November 2011. Land Rover took these concepts to North America to gauge reaction and explore the possibility of bringing the Defender back to the US market.
John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director said: "The Defender has always been at the heart of the Land Rover Brand and single-handedly defines our go-anywhere, can-do sprit. Our ambition is to create an all new Defender for a global market that remains absolutely faithfully to its original DNA: tough, versatile, durable and capable. At the same time, it will be developed for the 21st century and adaptable for the needs of future generations.
Our intention is to introduce the all new Defender in the middle of the decade - there's a lot of work to do to meet these dates and our concepts are just the start of the journey. We are here in LA to showcase our DC100 and DC100 Sport concepts and start to actively explore the possibility of bringing the future Defender to North America."
Capturing the rugged, dependable and adventurous spirit of the original, the DC100 concepts are intended to showcase the potential breadth of capability for the future Defender family. Evolved since their unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011, the concepts now ride on optimised off-road 20-inch alloy wheels shod with Cooper all-terrain tyres. The DC100 also features expedition accessories with a raised air-intake 'snorkel' for wading and a roof rack.
Finished in the Land Rover signature combination of 'Heritage Blue' paint with a Candy Weiss white roof, the DC100 reinvents the essential Defender design cues for the 21st century. These include short overhangs for extreme approach and departure angles, vertical panels, an upright windscreen and strong shoulder line for visibility and ease of positioning and, of course, the honest Defender 'face' with its signature round lamps and prominent grille, incorporating a winch.
The DC100 Sport takes all these key design cues and adds to them the spirit of freedom first embodied by the early canvas-roofed Land Rovers with their fold-down windscreens to create a concept bursting with California cool.
Core Land Rover attributes of capability and versatility are underpinned in both concepts by a suite of innovative off-road technological aids that reduce the workload on the driver.
Foremost of these is the next generation of Land Rover's acclaimed Terrain Response system which will optimise the car for any conditions without driver pre-selection. In addition, a new Terrain-i system creates an intelligent map of the topography in front of the car and displays it as a 3D visualisation. Terrain-i automatically identifies potential hazards and suggests alternative routes. In urban environments the same system is able to identify pedestrians and hazards with great accuracy.
A new Wade Aid system utilises sonar sensors mounted in the bumpers and wing mirrors to measure water depth. As with Terrain Response, Wade Aid will optimise the car for water crossings by closing body vents, raising the ride height, selecting a low gear and advising on the safest speed.
Sustainability has always been a Land Rover hallmark - more than three-quarters of the almost two million Defenders made are still doing regular duty - and the DC100 concepts extend this commitment with new technologies that will reduce their environmental impact. The first is an intelligent Twin-Solenoid Stop/Start system mated to the latest eight-speed automatic gearbox, both of which have been designed with future hybridisation in mind. Second is the unique Driveline Disconnect system, which sends power to the front-axle only unless conditions demand all-wheel drive. Unlike conventional systems, this physically, rather than electronically, decouples the rear-axle to reduce friction losses but can reengage drive almost instantaneously.
Armoured Defenders
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- Last Updated on Tuesday, 26 July 2011 21:15
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Found on the internet (www.pik.ba) for sale in Bosnia. At least six 1997 Armoured Defenders. Diesel powered. Anyone know who made these?
Nigel Linton's Defender Upgrade
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We have a nicely laid out pdf download available from Land Rover Madness website visitor Nigel Linton, who has detailed his work on his 2000 Td5 Defender. The pdf file stretches to 104 pages and not surprisingly, is almost 13mb in size. Check it out!
Project Icon
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- Last Updated on Thursday, 20 October 2011 21:52
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Project Icon, the long-awaited replacement for the Defender range of vehicles, is under development inside Jaguar Land Rover's Gaydon design centre, earmarked for a 2015 launch.
The new Land Rover is expected to be a relatively simple, steel-chassis workhorse intended also to attract lower-end Discovery buyers. It should hit the market soon after Land Rover’s existing Defender model reaches the end of the road, killed by legislation, and will reach many of the current Defender's 160-odd export markets.
The new Project Icon vehicle could be based on the tough, capable but relatively heavy T5 steel platform chassis used for the Discovery 3 and Range Rover Sport models, both of which will have by then been replaced by lighter aluminium - based models.
Land Rover wants to retain the simple, twin-rail T5 chassis because it allows them to continue offering the variety of body styles - hard and soft tops, truck and crew-cab versions - from which Defender buyers can choose. The T5 chassis supports a modern all-independent suspension available both with steel and air springs and is well-known for its sturdiness.
The model will be made in the UK at first, but JLR bosses believe it could soon be made from CKD (Completely Knocked Down) kits in big markets like China, Russia and India. There are no details yet of Project Icon’s engine choices, but the Discovery's V6 turbodiesel is one possibility.
30 August 2011
Land Rover Confirms All-New Defender Concept for Frankfurt Motor Show 2011
The Land Rover DC100 concept vehicle investigates the potential future direction of the iconic Defender, demonstrating the future of Land Rover capability and versatility. The functional and purposeful design of this new concept vehicle was delivered by the Land Rover design team, led by Gerry McGovern.
The DC100 concept launch is confirmation from Land Rover that they intend to bring the replacement Defender to the public in 2015. The Land Rover DC100, a modern interpretation of the iconic Land Rover Defender made its debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Commenting on the Land Rover DC100 concept car, Gerry McGovern, Director of Design, 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. This 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, Land Rover added: "Loved the world over for its simple, honest and distinctive design, we are determined that the new Defender will be true to its heritage, while meeting the requirements of a changing global market.
We plan to engage with existing and potential customers to help us finalise the details of the new vehicle. One thing's for sure, it's going to be an exciting journey, and we can't wait to get going."
The Land Rover DC100 concept builds upon the essential elements of the car’s character and allows Land Rover to open the debate and inspire people to dream about the Defenders of the future.
September 2011: Land Rover unveil DC100 and DC100 Sport
Land Rover unveiled their new Project Icon concept vehicles, the DC100 and DC100 sport at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The 100" wheelbase DC100 puts a modern twist on the Defender ethos whilst keeping many styling cues from the Defender model, like the sloping front on the roof, wheel-arch spats and door mounted spare wheel. The DC100 sport is a cabriolet-style version of the DC100 concept. Both vehicles are specified with a 2 litre hybrid compatible diesel engine, and an 8-speed automatic transmission.
Land Rover DC100 and DC100 sport concept pictures
AR-90 Defender
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- Last Updated on Saturday, 21 May 2011 17:53
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In the early 1990's The Italian Army were looking to replace their FIAT AR76 patrol vehicles which had proved unreliable.
Fiat AR 76
They issued a specification for the acquisition of a new model of off-road vehicle. Many foreign companies were banned from bidding for the contract and FIAT had decided not to tender. Land Rover had already sold Defenders to the Carabinieri and other government departments for their replacement contracts, and so the Defender 90 model became a front runner, with Land Rover's willingness to adapt the Defender and ready parts supply being a big factor in winning the contract.
AR-90 Defender
AR-90 on display
The Defender 90 (approved as the AR-90) has become an important Italian military all-terrain vehicle, with special versions such as the VAV (fast attack vehicle). The standard AR90 spec vehicles are equipped with the Td5 turdodiesel engine, delivering a maximum power of 90 kW at 4,200 rpm and maximum torque of 300 Nm at 2,000 rpm, with a five speed gearbox and full-time 4x4. The maximum speed is 133 km/h (82.6mph).
AR-90 VAV Defender
Tomb Raider Land Rover
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- Last Updated on Saturday, 23 July 2011 13:53
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A specially modified Land Rover Defender appeared in the 2001 Paramount Pictures action adventure movie "Tomb Raider", Starring Angelina Jolie as lead character Lara Croft.
Lara Croft's “Tomb Raider” vehicle was based on a high-capacity pickup version of the Defender 110 that had been specially modified by Land Rover Special Vehicles for the movie.
Bonatti Grey in color with aluminum tread plates on the front wings and on the ends of the front bumper, this unique, open-top Defender is fitted with a "Heritage" style grille and four Safari driving lights mounted on the front of the roof rack part of the special roll bar. Extra accessories to aid Lara in her adventures include an expedition tool kit, bonnet-mounted shovel and axe, a winch on the front bumper, a dash-mounted notebook computer, a GSM telephone, fire extinguisher, and emergency kill buttons.
The interior is extensively chequerplated and the dash is a specially made item, the vehicle is supplied with a V8 engine with an automatic gearbox. It's rumoured that two vehicles were prepared for the film.
The vehicle caused a sensation and this prompted Land Rover to produce limited edition 'Tomb Raider' Defender models for sale to the public, with only a few hundred vehicles built. It was available in a 90 Station Wagon or 110 Double Cab, both powered by Land Rover's five-cylinder Td5 turbo-diesel rather than the petrol V8 in the movie version. The limited edition vehicles have similar exterior designs to the movie Land Rover, with a Bonatti grey exterior, plus the blackened roof rack, spotlights and, of course, Tomb Raider badges.
Further information on these vehicles is very welcome