What is it?
A long time coming. Seriously, Land Rover's Defender has been around in some shape or boxy form since 1948. Obviously it's changed through the years, but the current car remains true to the original's rugged, capable purpose. It's long overdue a re-think. This DC100 is exactly that, a vision of what Land Rover will replace its ancient machine with by 2015.
Why's it here?
To replace an icon, or at least show what to expect in a few years time. Land Rover is promising that, for all its shiny future-looking styling, the DC100 will remain true to the rugged nature of its tractor-like predecessor. There's a hose-out interior, short front and rear overhangs and huge ramp-over potential thanks to high riding suspension. There's talk of modularity too, allowing this concept to offer the same flexible commercial platform as the current Defender.
Show stopper or floor filler?
Sharing space with Jaguar's C-X16 means the Land Rover has to try hard to attract attention from a high performance glamour-puss, but it's managing to hold its own. So it should; we've only been waiting 63 years...
Frankfurt Motor Show
Kyle Fortune - 14 Sep 2011