Land Rover makes update to the Defender under Project Icon
After six decades of conquering unimaginable terrains, the boxy do-it-all Defender by Land Rover is getting an update. The recognition for this automotive icon can be claimed anywhere in the globe and it is about time for the designers and engineers to pay homage to classic vehicle and give it a new look.
The team responsible for the new Defender is working with their drawing boards covered under the moniker Project Icon. The goal is to update the old Defender and apply principles of modern design to make its lines more appealing to today’s consumers. Land Rover wants to keep the vehicle simple and preserve its capability for which the Defender is known for.
The new Defender might avoid the aluminum body but instead borrow some concept from the rugged steel body works of the Range Rover and the Discovery. Most of its current siblings in the garage are going for the lighter aluminum but the ruggedness of the Defender might just be calling for a harder shell.
It will initially be assembled in England but the car maker has plans to spread production in China, India, and Russia.
The upgrade of the Defender to T5 chassis will involve installing independent suspension, air or steel springs, and a choice between soft or hard roofing. The engine will most likely from the range of six or four cylinders running on diesel.
Most likely, the new Defender will not touch the American shore. The last stint of the vehicle on U.S. grounds was during the 1990s.
Tags: Land Rover, Land Rover Defender, SUV
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