And the new design has already been finalized.
Back in 2011, Land Rover revealed a pair of concepts that supposedly previewed the next-generation Defender. And Defender enthusiasts hated what they saw. The DC100 and DC100 Sport were supposed to be modern interpretations of one of the world's most iconic off-roaders. But due to their mixed (at best) response, LR went back to the drawing boards. And now we're getting word that the next Defender's design has been finalized, and it reportedly doesn't look anything like the concepts.
However, Autocar has heard that this new design won't actually be a direct replacement for the original Defender. LR management is also still deciding when to launch the new vehicle. Basically, it wants to find the right time between when the current Defender ceases production, schedule for next year. More than likely, a new concept will be revealed first. And if Defender fans don't like it? Well, let's hope for the best with this one.
Jay Traugott was just nine years old when his grandfather gave him his first auto magazine which began his passion for cars. He was raised in Toledo, Ohio, the home of Jeep and the people who love them. After wrapping up a degree in Communications and English at Ohio University, he worked in online media and advertising for several years before making the switch to automotive journalism. He's been with CarBuzz since 2010.
Join The Discussion