Land Rover Defender Blog

FunRover 2018 Defender Concept

We've asked a car designer to draft up a concept for our dream Defender 2.0

Ben Gribbin

Ben Gribbin

May 8, 2015

Hello, I'm the editor of FunRover. I'm a massive Land Rover fan. Currently own a TD5 90. 2015 MR Blogger of the Year

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As a Land Rover nut and a FunRover reader, you'll have seen the Dc100 and the numerous car magazine Defender concepts that have followed over the last few years. They've all received a mixed response. A very mixed response in fact. Traditional Land Rover owners hate them. Newcomers to the brand quite like them. A few years ago, we posted about why the Defender design is so special. So, we spoke to a car designer from the Midlands, tasking them with the brief "Re-design the Defender as you'd like to see it".

defenderconceptfr

 

We asked our friendly car designer to keep as much of the essence of the original as possible. The result is a design that is faithful to the original Defender. It's much more rugged and blocky than the soft and rounded DC100. The front end manages to unify the current Land Rover / Range Rover brand whilst harping back to the past. Naturally, a winch is fitted up front.

Screen Shot 2015-05-07 at 18.06.46

The raised bulkhead from the Defender and Series vehicles remains, with swage lines following into the doors. This retains the classic Land Rover look, but the window has been given a shape not to dissimilar to that of the Evoque / Discovery Sport and Range Rover - pleasing the board of directors.

Screen Shot 2015-05-07 at 18.07.55

Flat wing tops are still present - these are ever practical and quintessentially "Land Rover".

The David Bache designed 'hips' that were introduced in the Series 2 remain, again giving a little tip of the hat to past Land Rovers. The roof line too remains true to the original, with a multi-angle profile whilst the classic rain channels and alpine windows are still present.

The specifications for this Defender read more like a wish list, but one can dream:

  • 2.0 Litre Turbo Diesel 'Ingenium' engine, resulting in EU5 classification.
  • Aluminium bodywork can still be removed in sections, but now sits on an internal unibody structure for improved crash safety, body alignment and higher wading depth.
  • Separate chassis and bodywork, based on the Discovery T5 Platform
  • 6 Speed manual gearbox with user selectable difflock and high/ low range. Power take off option
  • Same off road capabilities of current Defender

defender-concept_rearfr

From the rear, it's still definitely a Defender. The rear crossmember outline is still visible. The 2 rear quarter windows are present, as is a spare wheel hung on the now reinforced door. The white roof is reminiscent of the Series 2 of old.

Screen Shot 2015-05-07 at 18.09.33

This vehicle has removable mud flaps all round. The rear lights are a modern take on the typical old school Land Rover layout.

Overall, we like this design. It's faithful to the vehicles that form Land Rover's rich company heritage, to the brand and to the people who use Land Rovers as intended. It also acknowledges that times have changed and so must the vehicle. There are now regulations that govern pedestrian safety and a manufacturers responsibility to minimise environmental impact. But the design also recognises that rough terrain will always be rough terrain and requires a suitably tough vehicle to travel over.

What do you think to our Defender 2.0? Do you like it? How does it compare to the DC100 or other concept images you've seen so far? Would you buy one? 

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8 Comments

  1. Ross says:

    This is what should be released! I would buy one! Or more haha. This keeps the Defender look, while adding modern touches! Great work

  2. Mike Hallett says:

    Like it. Your man has done an impressive job. Only aspect I’m not sure about is the rather bulbous bonnet and the apparently shallow windscreen and lowish seating position behind it. Not good for forward visibility on rough terrain, but concede it may be necessary for “crash-worthiness” and/or “Construction and Use” compliance etc. etc. Looking forward to see what JLR eventually come up with.

  3. Julian says:

    Amazing design it looks really Defender!

  4. B.Kerby says:

    Crowd funding anyone 🙂

  5. Tim says:

    I like this but agree with the earlier comment that the windscreen is a little too shallow for the visibility needed off-road? Looks like one of the family though!

  6. kaepten says:

    Sorry for saying; this graphic is one of the worse one regarding the front! The concept neither follows LR style nor is incredibly creative. The look is very close to a Mercedes G to be honest. Sure it’s a kind of taste, and we all are hoping and waiting for a cool new Defender, but this is the un-creative one I ever saw 😉

  7. Darren says:

    I love it and would purchase this vehicle

  8. Defenders says:

    Nice with making the back door more look like the current model

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