Delhi dazzled by the new Defender
Friday, 6 January 2012 1:50 PM
The Land Rover DC100 Sport concept. Who needs a roof when your car looks this good!
The Land Rover Defender has been a legendary off-roader for years and now the potential replacement has been on show at the New Delhi Auto Expo 2012 after it was launched last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Like any reworking of a classic, any major change in design direction is bound to be controversial.
Land Rover says the new Defender is "tough, versatile, durable and capable". The two concept cars on display are the Defender Concept 100 and the Defender Concept 100 Sport. These new-look Defenders, in Firenze Red with a white roof, are on optimised off-road 20-inch alloy wheels with Cooper all-terrain tyres.
New design cues include short overhangs, vertical panels, an upright windscreen and a prominent grille which incorporates a winch. The trademark round headlights stay, which is good news for the purists even if they're still getting their heads around the new look.
The Concept 100 Sport adds a canvas roof and fold-down windscreen to the new look.
There are some new innovations that will no doubt find their way into many a new model across the Landy range. The newest version of Land Rover's Terrain Response system optimises the car for any conditions without any input from the driver and the new Terrain-i system creates topographical maps of terrain, identifying potential hazards and suggesting alternative routes off-road. On tarmac, it can also help spot pedestrians and the like before the driver does.
If you don't mind getting the car's feet wet, the new (and rhyme-tastic!) Wade Aid system uses sonar sensors in the bumpers and wing mirrors to measure water depth and will help with water crossings by closing body vents, raising ride height, selecting a low gear and giving advice on the safest speed.
On the environmental front, there’s stop-start technology mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox - and these have been designed with future hybrid versions in the pipeline. The Driveline Disconnect system sends power to the front axle only when all-wheel-drive is not required.
The lack of a clutch pedal and the new design may not please the hardcore Defender fans but it is a design that looks to the future on the inside and out - definitely one to look out for when it hopefully goes into production.
www.landrover.com
By Georgia Lewis
Follow us @TotallyMotor
