In an interview with Gerry McGovern, Land Rover design director, and Andy Goss, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover North America, the
Washingon Post has all but confirmed that the U.S. will get the next-generation Defender. The
DC100 Concept that initially debuted at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show is believed to be a strong indicator of the styling direction for the replacement for Land Rover's long-running icon of ruggedness.
Mechanical details on the new Defender were not discussed in depth. The concept had a plug-in hybrid powertrain mated to an eight-speed automatic, auto stop-start, and adaptive GPS for off-roading. The production model may have a more conventional powertrain to keep costs down. McGovern promised the new Defender would be "tough as nails," a reputation its predecessor earned after decades of service on nearly every continent on the planet.
Before the new Defender bows, a new Range Rover Sport model is expected soon, likely to employ many of the weight-saving technologies and materials applied to the new
2013 Range Rover.
Goss said Land Rover's future U.S. product lineup will be more evenly split between Land Rover and Range Rover-branded vehicles, as is the case in most other markets worldwide. The upscale Range Rover sub-brand represents the bulk of the brand's sales in the U.S.