Land Rover DC100 and DC100 Sport Concepts

Land Rover brought its vision for a new-generation Defender SUV to the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show in the form of the DC100 (bottom) and DC100 Sport (top) concepts.

The Land Rover Defender has been in production in various forms since 1983. The company offered it in the U.S. from 1993-1997. It was the very definition of a no-nonsense off-roader, something more basic than even a Jeep Wrangler. While it was most at home tackling the worst terrain Mother Nature could throw at it, the Defender was also a fashionable street vehicle. Its basic design and simple mechanicals made it very popular with the do-it-yourself crowd.




The DC100 Concept is a fixed-roof wagon with an overall shape slightly less square than its predecessor. For its North American debut (the vehicle premiered globally at the Frankfurt Auto Show), Land Rover outfitted the concept with a roof rack and a “snorkel” air intake. The latter item allows the engine to breathe even when the vehicle is driven through water. The DC100 Sport is more for the urban jungle with its open-top design.

Both concepts have all-wheel drive with the latest generation of Land Rover’s Terrain Response. It adjusts throttle, transmission, and suspension settings to suit a variety of road conditions. Drivers can set a console knob for pavement, snow, and other surfaces. To supplement this system, the DC100 employs what Land Rover calls “Terrain-i” and “Wade Aid.” The former has sensors that detect objects and terrain ahead of the vehicle and displays it as a 3D image. It can be used in off-road environments as well as to detect pedestrians and other potential hazards in more urban settings. Wade Aid uses sonar sensors in the bumper and exterior mirrors to measure water depth. It works with Terrain Response to close body vents, raise the suspension, and select appropriate off-road gearing to make sure the vehicle can travel safely through water.

While Land Rover was mum on engine details, officials confirm an 8-speed automatic transmission is standard. To help save fuel, the DC100 employs engine stop/start and a system that decouples the all-wheel-drive system from the drivetrain.

Land Rover used the Los Angeles Auto Show to gauge public reaction to these concepts. Officials confirmed that a new Defender will see production mid-decade, but they have not decided if this re-born off-road icon will be available for sale in the U.S.