Defender DC100 Land Rover car review

Sneak behind the wheel, and you'll see no resemblance to the original Defender beyond the general feeling of simplicity and durability

On the last day of production, we remember the time (back in 2011) when we drove the Land Rover Defender concept, a car that could preview what will come when moniker back into production.

Now they're getting serious. In this week's Los Angeles motor show, Land Rover shows the third iteration of the concept Defender (dubbed the Land Rover Defender DC100 Sport) was first revealed a few months ago in Frankfurt - and has supported this by allowing Autocar beach trip exclusive of DC100 V8 Sport , both the design proposal and most obviously aimed at life under the California sun.

orange Land Rover understandably insist that these concepts "are just the foot in the water" and "a place to start as we work to change the icon for the year 2015". However, the world saw on the faces of all the modern-honest, the clearer becomes the specific fundamentals of the machine is destined to replace the 54-year-old icon of cloth-topped Land Rover has been set already. Of course, there is a large amount remains to be done, but not Land Rover has just finished teaching us - through the Evoque project is very successful - which these days is not to build concept just throw it away?

Metal Flake yellow paint job and 22-inch wheels with hand-cut tread, for example. But if the central plan is to match the extreme off-road capability Defenders today and better performance than the softer, more conventional tasks, then this DC100 Sport is the perfect demonstrators. Very similar in length and wheelbase to Defender currently 90, with the front overhang is extremely short and the rear almost nothing, Sport has all the ground clearance of the extreme needs of the off-roader, but it is lower, it has a huge door and easier access, and the twin bucket seats far more inviting.

Someone had told me that the concept of V8 Sport's chassis has a slightly modified Range Rover Sport, admired Solihull built assembly T5 has reliably combined technology of low (apart, the design of twin-rail) and high technology (high-articulation, all air suspension independent) RR Sport and Discovery for years. LR other people have told me it was "one solution" for the next Defender, although others are being considered.

Fortunately, I was driving a Range Rover Sport, and consider again the footwell roomy, with plenty of space for two fat "designer" pedal. There is, however, no separator high console - the Defender of the automatic transmission selector sprouts from quadrant PRND pegged to the dashboard. Seats are close to the floor, so your feet reach out rather than down. Press the starter button and there was a throbbing V8 instant, more prominent than any Land Rover for the production of curled over the back deck elegant, with roll-over protection and fairings integral rear occupant's head. Blip the throttle and you're rewarded with the kind of rom-pah rumble. Think hot Range Rover, with a little bit of NASCAR V8 above.

suspension feels rubbery on the sand varying between routine bone-jarring and eerie tenderness. In both the steering is light and responsive enough to the concept, where such things were never optimized. Combination sits low in the vehicle width tracked higher than most, but it has a small overhang create a vehicle that mixes sporty and luxury in a new way, roadster for 2015 and beyond. It is hard to think that it could be so closely linked with snorkeling expedition vehicles equipped with four-cylinder diesel slogging, manual gearbox, snorkel, roof lights and roof-rack for fuel drums and the spare wheel. Or a farm pick-up with a canopy of fabric and some sheepdogs behind. Yet this is what the Defender will continue to be.

One phrase in the description of the promotion of the Land Rover stand out: DC100 concept aims to match the "spirit of freedom" of the original Land Rover's Defender. If that means offering the same configurability and improve the scalability of 54-year-old original, while building character as much loved and globally recognized, it will seem a huge task. But on the evidence looking, talking and some driving on the California coast, I would say Ralf Speth, Gerry McGovern and their feet to the beginning of a very decent.

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