Place a daunting task in the face of any Land Rover vehicle and it will comply with ease, while skillfully showcasing its physical capability, durability and go-anywhere mobility. This was the case during an off-roading session in Scotland with the new LR4 model. We crossed rivers, scaled steep slopes, muscled over boulders and slid down muddy hills with complete control. What can I say; it’s in their nature, and has been since 1948 when Land Rover developed the original Series 1. Yet, as history has told us many times over, the moment to pass along the torch has arrived. With that very point in mind, a new set of concepts have been manifested for the “world traveler” in the form of the Land Rover DC100 and DC100 Sport.
It’s not easy replacing a vehicle that’s been a brand hallmark for 60 years. And though the DC100 is not a solid confirmation of what to expect in 2015 for Land Rover, it does convey the message that the British SUV maker is ready to make a progressive move. The vehicle’s nomenclature is simple. “DC” equates to Defender Concept with the “100” denoting the length of wheelbase. The DC100 Sport, aka “cool” is the active, convertible variation of the concept while the DC100, aka “tool” is the ultra-aggressive, utilitarian adaptation of the vehicle. Original and clever layout cues such as three-across seating and folding windshields have made their way into these concepts.
Land Rover utilized the 2011 Frankfurt International Auto Show to bring the concepts to fruition. The “Sport” was a bit more polarizing in person than the DC100. Anytime you have a Sunflower Yellow convertible crossover concept on stage, you’d best believe it’s going to shine like a Jamaican morning sunrise. Both concept vehicles are powered by a 2-liter, 4-cylinder engine that possesses hybrid capabilities. The “Sport” will go with a gasoline version while the DC100 will adopt diesel as its choice of fuel. The remainder of the powertrain formula includes: an 8-speed automatic transmission; 4-wheel drive with torque vectoring; 22” rims with spiked tires; Driveline Disconnect, which turns the vehicle into a full-time 2WD in order to save on fuel; and of course, Land Rover’s stellar Terrain Response system.
Cameras and sensors have been incorporated into the all-terrain system to visualize the environment ahead while inputting the data so that Terrain-i can actively adjust itself to traverse the road surface accordingly. In the city, Terrain-i also has the aptitude to identify civilians and self-brake prior to impact should the driver be inattentive. Furthermore, Wade Aid reconfigures the DC100 into a submarine by allowing it to sonically measure water depths for safe stream and river crossings. Self-parking, 3G connectivity, smart phone compatibility, and a Start/Stop feature add to the technological enhancements found in both vehicles.
As stated previously, it’s a challenge for any company to upgrade a living legend, particularly when it has lived up to its original intention and far exceeded the boundaries of the Brit’s expectations and wildest imaginations. Land Rover’s Design Director, Gerry McGovern, might have summed it up best. “Replacing the iconic Defender is one of the biggest challenges in the automotive world. It is a car that has inspired people worldwide. These aren’t production ready concepts but the beginning of a four-year journey to design a relevant Defender for the 21st Century,” he stated stated. Well then, let’s get on to the next one.
Place
a daunting
task in
the face
of any
Land Rover
vehicle and
it will
comply with
ease, while
skillfully
showcasing its
physical
capability,
durability and
go-anywhere
mobility. This
was the
case during
an off-roading
session in
Scotland with
the new
LR4 model.
We crossed
rivers, scaled
steep slopes,
muscled over
boulders and
slid down
muddy hills
with complete
control. What
can I
say; it’s
in their
nature, and
has been
since 1948
when Land
Rover developed
the original
Series 1.
Yet, as
history has
told us
many times
over, the
moment to
pass along
the torch
has arrived.
With that
very point
in mind,
a new
set of
concepts have
been manifested
for the
“world
traveler” in
the form
of the
Land Rover
DC100 and
DC100 Sport.
It’s
not easy replacing a vehicle that’s been a brand hallmark for 60
years. And though the DC100 is not a solid confirmation of what to
expect in 2015 for Land Rover, it does convey the message that the
British SUV maker is ready to make a progressive move. The vehicle’s
nomenclature is simple. “DC” equates to Defender Concept with the
“100” denoting the length of wheelbase. The DC100 Sport, aka
“cool” is the active, convertible variation of the concept while
the DC100, aka “tool” is the ultra-aggressive, utilitarian
adaptation of the vehicle. Original and clever layout cues such as
three-across seating and folding windshields have made their way into
these concepts.
Land
Rover utilized
the 2011
Frankfurt
International
Auto Show
to bring
the concepts
to fruition.
The “Sport”
was a
bit more
polarizing in
person than
the DC100.
Anytime you
have a
Sunflower
Yellow
convertible
crossover concept
on stage,
you’d
best believe
it’s
going to
shine like
a Jamaican
morning sunrise.
Both concept
vehicles are
powered by
a 2-liter,
4-cylinder engine
that possesses
hybrid
capabilities. The
“Sport” will
go with
a gasoline
version while
the DC100
will adopt
diesel as
its choice
of fuel.
The remainder
of the
powertrain
formula includes:
an 8-speed
automatic
transmission;
4-wheel drive
with torque
vectoring; 22”
rims with
spiked tires;
Driveline
Disconnect, which
turns the
vehicle into
a full-time
2WD in
order to
save on
fuel; and
of course,
Land Rover’s
stellar Terrain
Response system.
Cameras
and sensors have been incorporated into the all-terrain system to
visualize the environment ahead while inputting the data so that
Terrain-i can actively adjust itself to traverse the road surface
accordingly. In the city, Terrain-i also has the aptitude to identify
civilians and self-brake prior to impact should the driver be
inattentive. Furthermore, Wade Aid reconfigures the DC100 into a
submarine by allowing it to sonically measure water depths for safe
stream and river crossings. Self-parking, 3G connectivity, smart
phone compatibility, and a Start/Stop feature add to the
technological enhancements found in both vehicles.
As
stated
previously, it’s
a challenge
for any
company to
upgrade a
living legend,
particularly when
it has
lived up
to its
original
intention and
far exceeded
the boundaries
of the
Brit’s
expectations and
wildest
imaginations.
Land Rover’s
Design Director,
Gerry McGovern,
might have
summed it
up best.
“Replacing the
iconic Defender
is one
of the
biggest
challenges in
the automotive
world. It
is a
car that
has inspired
people worldwide.
These aren’t
production ready
concepts but
the beginning
of a
four-year journey
to design
a relevant
Defender for
the 21st
Century,” he
stated stated.
Well then,
let’s
get on
to the
next one.
