[shankar.balan]

the Defender was created as a retro move (in terms of look, feel, form and function) for diehard LandRover enthusiasts who were in love with the iconic series 1,2 and 3 and the old 90 and 110 and wanted something similar to the traditional vehicle, but properly modernized to meet the then applicable emission norms and safety norms etc. Hence the Defender was developed.
Typically, it was an instant hit both in the countryside where its utility value came to the fore as well as in the towns and cities amongst the poser executive types with some sort of pretensions to country life or fantasies about being or wanting to be part of the land owning gentry - which is why it is euphemistically referred to as a "Chelsea Tractor" - Chelsea being an upmarket urban (yuppy-ish) locale in London. Thinly veiled satire, because there is no other conceivable reason why such a 4x4 utility type vehicle should be buzzing around on the urban roads except to create some sort of "impression".

Originally Posted by chetanhanda

I agree, I have 2 diecast models of the original Defenders both the short (90) and long wheel base(110).
Original ones looked awesome.
Why do they call it a Defender ?

[rk206]

There are some more renderings in addition to the one shared on the previous page.

Credit to Kilometer Magazine: for enthusiasts of European cars and motorcycles

[Nilesh5417]

jeez!!!!! This looks like a Mini Cooper S on steroids...ghastly!!!

[Spitfire]

TATA!! TATA!! Get the old Defender here. Please!! Please!! Keep it unadulterated/unmodern/un-yuppie. Leave it as it is and get it here. We don't want flash.

The last of the Mohicans really in the land of offroaders.

EDIT: Agree with Nilesh above it does look like a Mini.

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by Spitfire

TATA!! TATA!! Get the old Defender here. Please!! Please!! Keep it unadulterated/unmodern/un-yuppie. Leave it as it is and get it here. We don't want flash.

The last of the Mohicans really in the land of offroaders.

EDIT: Agree with Nilesh above it does look like a Mini.

Not a bad idea. Let Tata shift the production of Defender to India. We get to buy the Defender at a reasonable price and Tata can export it to the enthusiasts all around the world!

[teamveevee]

Originally Posted by Aroy

Not a bad idea. Let Tata shift the production of Defender to India. We get to buy the Defender at a reasonable price and Tata can export it to the enthusiasts all around the world!

If Land-Rover could secure a military contract in India (for defender ), there is a very good chance the production will be shifted to India. Any body knows who won that contract?

[teamveevee]

Perhaps the most controversial design detail is the sculptured low-drag front end, which is a clear departure from the old Landie's upright and boxy nose. Modern aerodynamics, crash requirements and pedestrian impact standards dictated much of the change, so does the design team's intent to create some thing new
- Automobile Magazine - November 2011 issue (About DC100 Concept)

Some of the interesting new features....a camera based off-road scanner, sonar based wade-aid system....
Land Rover Defender concepts reveal revolutionary new technology at Frankfurt Auto Show

[Samir Taheer]

Looks like the old design is to stay until 2017. Land Rover say they found a loophole in the legislation and the new design was for pedestrian safety!!

Current Defender to live on to 2017 - Autocar.co.uk

[MileCruncher]

Originally Posted by Samir Taheer

Looks like the old design is to stay until 2017. Land Rover say they found a loophole in the legislation and the new design was for pedestrian safety!!

Current Defender to live on to 2017 - Autocar.co.uk

Read this over here too Land Rover Defender lives on till 2017 - BBC Top Gear

Yippee! . Now one just needs to hope that it makes to the Indian shores before that.