Defender of the Faith No More: Land Rover to Build Iconic 4x4’s Successor in India

If there’s one car the British industry can be proud about (apart from the Mini), it’s the Defender. Land Rover’s 4x4 has been in production since 1949 and, even though it evolved somewhat over the decades, at heart it was always the same.

And even though Land Rover has licensed the manufacture of some derivatives and clones of the Defender in countries such as Turkey and Brazil, it was always built in Solihull, UK.

In three years’ time, this tradition will come to an end as Land Rover's owner Tata Motors has decided to manufacture its 2015 replacement at its Prune plant in India and export it from there to the rest of the world.

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Land Rover Joins Forces with Blaser Hunting Rifles to Create Special Edition Defender

If you happen to be into hunting, then you're surely going to like Land Rover's new limited edition Defender Blaser just as long as you live in Germany and are willing to fork out a hefty €49,500 (equal to US$64,400).

Crafted in cooperation with German firearms manufacturer Blaser, which specializes in hunting rifles, production of the Defender "Blaser Edition" will be limited to just 60 units built exclusively for the local market.

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Land Rover Brings Revised DC100 Concepts to LA Auto Show to Gauge Reactions [Updated Gallery]

Land Rover would like to know if there is an appetite for the next generation of the Defender that is being previewed by a pair of new concept models.

To that end, the British automaker brought both its DC100 hardtop and DC100 Sport convertible 4x4 studies to this week's Los Angeles Auto Show to gauge customer reactions and explore the possibility of bringing the Defender back to the US market.

"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," says John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand Director. "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."

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Report: Land Rover to Show Updated Version of DC100 Concept at LA Auto Show [New Photos]

[Early design rendering for DC100 pictured above]

Land Rover only recently showed its conceptual proposals for the 2015 Defender with the DC100 studies at the 2011 IAA in Frankfurt, but that's not stopping the British automaker from preparing an updated version that will make its world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show in a couple of weeks' time.

The news comes courtesy of Edmund's Insideline, which had a brief encounter with Land Rover Global Brand Director, John Edwards.

The British firm's executive told the news outlet that Land Rover is testing the waters with the DC100 concepts and that it is a working project.

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Current Land Rover Defender to Soldier On Beyond 2017 in LWB Form

Land Rover has already announced plans to replace the Defender with a brand-new model in four years from now. It has even displayed not one, but two such concepts named DC100 at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show, previewing the 4x4 model’s successor in three-door form.

This, however, does not mean that the current Defender, which traces its roots back original Land Rover Series launched in 1948, will be discontinued.

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Land Rover Presents Two Defender Concepts in Frankfurt, the DC100 and the DC100 Sport

Six decades is a very long time - and an eternity if we are talking about cars. Yet that’s the lifespan of the Defender, which was first launched way back in 1949. Over the years, it has been updated numerous times but even so, all versions were built on just two core platforms.

Now even Land Rover admits that the time has come for the current Defender to make way for a brand-new model. The first step is the presentation of not one, but two concepts, the DC100 and DC100 Sport at the Frankfurt Motor Show, both of which preview the production version set to launch in 2015.

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Project Kahn Recreates Land Rover's Frankfurt-Bound Defender DC100 Concept

While Land Rover will be testing the design waters for the next generation of the iconic Defender with its DC100 Concept in Frankfurt, British tuning firm Project Kahn is already imagining ways of enhancing and personalizing the potential replacement for the automaker's most famous model through some photoshop wizardry.

Project Kahn dreamed up four different variants of the DC100, the first of which simply features a white paint job along with the tuning firm's trademark multispoke alloy wheels finished in black.

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Land Rover Previews the Future of the Defender with Frankfurt-Bound DC100 Concept

The Land Rover Defender is without doubt, one of the most renowned and recognizable off-road models in the world, which makes designing a replacement model an extremely challenging task, to say the least.

But the British automaker, which is now under the control of India's Tata Motors, believes it's time to move on and prepare fans of the vehicle and consumers alike for the next generation of its iconic Defender with the presentation of the DC100 concept that will bow in Frankfurt next month.

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Vilner Poshes Up Classic Land Rover Defenders for "Russian Oligarch"

Land Rover's timeless Defender is a rugged, durable and extremely capable off roader, and as such, it falls behind when it comes to luxury. But where there's a will (and plenty of cash to go around…) there's a way.

Vilner, which is a Bulgarian design studio, said it was approached by a "Russian oligarch" (a.k.a. a business magnate) who wanted to turn the wick up on a short- and long-wheelbase Land Rover Defender by customizing their interiors.

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2012 Land Rover Defender Updated with New 2.2L Turbo Diesel and Additional Option Packages

There may be talk of a new Defender on its way with rumors of a concept model making its appearance as early as next month at the Frankfurt Motor Show, but for now, Land Rover is updating the current version with a new turbo diesel engine and the introduction of two new option packages for the 2012 model year.

The most important change of course is the new, EU5 compliant, 2.2-liter turbo diesel engine that replaces the EU4 2.4-litre oil-burner found in the 2011MY Defender.

Despite the smaller capacity, the new four-cylinder diesel delivers the same power and torque as the outgoing unit with 122PS at 3,500rpm and torque, 360Nm (265.5 lb-ft) at 2,000rpm.

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Land Rover Rumored to Reveal New Defender Concept in Frankfurt

Designing a new car from scratch is a relatively easy task for an automaker –provided it has the resources. Replacing an icon, however, is much more difficult.

Especially if said icon has a long and distinguished history and has made its manufacturer synonymous to hardcore 4x4 capabilities. The Defender is one such example.

However, that’s what Land Rover intends to do, and the first step will reportedly be the unveiling of a new Defender concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

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Land Rover to Premiere Range E Diesel-Electric Plug-in Hybrid at Geneva Show

The new Land Rover Range_e diesel-electric plug-in prototype that was first teased back in May, 2010, will make its motor show debut at next month's Geneva Salon. The Range_e is said to be one of several working prototypes currently being developed at Land Rover's design and engineering centre in the UK. It is based on the Range Rover Sport model and features a 3.0-litre V6 turbocharged diesel engine with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission mated to an, as-of-yet unspecified, electric motor and battery pack.

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Land Rover Releases Stylish 2011 Defender X-Tech Limited Edition

Land Rover has launched a new special edition version of its iconic 4x4 model, the 2011 Defender X-Tech Limited Edition. To be revealed for the first time at the this week's Brussels Motorshow, the Defender X-Tech sprinkles some tasty cosmetic enhancements on the standard model.

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Startech Shows Land Rover Defender 90 Yachting Edition at Essen

Cruising its way to the Essen Motor Show floors, is the sea-flavored Land Rover Defender 90 Yachting Edition, created by Brabus affiliate Startech. And while it ain't an amphibious off-roader, this Defender takes its styling inspiration from -you guessed it- maritime themes.

Finished in a bright white color, the Defender 90 Yachting Edition rolls on 16-inch alloys wrapped around in wider tires measuring 267/75 R16. Complementing the 4x4's looks are new running boards with integrated entrance lights that are activated via the keyless fob or by opening one of the doors, an SVX grille and body-colored headlight covers.

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