Land Rover Defender returns in 2018; could get 5 body styles

Production of the Land Rover Defender is set to end in the December 2015 - January 2016 period. While the icon has been laid to rest, talks of a revival have been on for several months. Now, it looks like the new Defender range is expected to make its debut in 2018, and the SUV could be offered in 5 body styles.

According to the report by Autonews, the range could include two two-door models, a longer wheelbase four-door, along with two and four door pickup variants. The pickups are unlikely to be offered in the USA. In terms of design, the new model family is expected to get the familiar Defender design and it will not look like any of the Defender concepts seen until now. 

Land Rover may have to tick-off a few purists in the process of developing the next-generation of Defenders, as the new range will not be as hardcore as the outgoing model, which hasn't been redesigned in decades. The new Defender family will have to comply with modern emission and safety norms, and Land Rover will have to make the car a little more docile and more liveable with in order to appeal to a wider customer base. This could even mean using JLR's new aluminium intensive architecture.

Gerry McGovern, Land Rover design director explained that many people like the idea of owning a Defender, but don’t necessarily buy one. The new Defender will have the tough task of upholding its iconic name, while keeping up with modern demands and wants in order to balance prestige and commercial viability.