Land Rover is preparing a replacement for the long-running Defender. It has been one of the most iconic off-road vehicles in history, along with the original Jeep and HUMMER. Its history began in 1949 and its run has included years of military service and use in developing countries. Over this course of time, it has changed very little.

Instead of keeping it fresh with ground up redesigns, the Defender has been a work horse. Thanks to emissions requirements and pedestrian safety regulations, it is nearing the end of its life. The next-generation model will be an entirely new, from the ground up model. It will share a platform with the Discovery and Range Rover Sport. As far as competition, the next-generation Defender will go head-to-head with the Jeep Wrangler.

Reported by Autocar Ratan Tata has announced that instead of calling Solihull, United Kingdom its home, the next-generation Defender will be produced in England. Oh how the world has changed. The Defender has been produced in many countries around the world by other manufacturers, but this will be a big change for Land Rover purists.

India was selected because the Tata Group, who owns, Land Rover is based in that country. Production there will enable the price point to be set much lower. While production will take place there, Autocar report that some assembly may be done in the United Kingdom.

Tata expects the new Defender to be a volume, workhorse model that sells in large numbers in developing countries. The Asia-Pacific region is projected to provide significant sales for the model. All of this is away off though; production of the Defender isn’t scheduled to begin until 2015. Until then, we can expect a continued stream of news and concepts leading up to a debut. The Defender’s design has been previewed by the DC100 Concept. While Land Rover has said that the DC100 Concept isn’t a dead ringer for the production model, sources say it is a very close preview.

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Land Rover hasn’t had much success with its LR2/Freelander models. They have been panned by the press for their high prices, lack of refinement and utilitarian design. The new Evoque changes that entire equation with an entirely different approach.

Evoque is unlike anything Land Rover has produced. For some, that is a good thing; for others, it is a dilution of what Land Rover stands for. Regardless of where you stand, the Evoque brings a lot of firsts to the Land Rover brand. They include a unibody platform basis, standard two-wheel drive and 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder power.

Yes, times are changing. Despite being a fan of the traditional Land Rovers, its striking design inside and out has earned the Evoque a place in our hearts, especially the two-door coupe model. And apparently, others agree. So far Land Rover’s compact reinvention is going incredibly well. Motor Trend has given the Evoque its 2011 SUV of the Year Award, something it has bestowed upon Land Rover before with the LR3 (currently called the LR4) model.

Motor Trend says the Evoque was the standout in its group of SUVs; a real head turner and we don’t doubt that. It also scored high marks in off-road capability as well; Land Rover has ensured it is more capable than other unibody offerings in its segment. Angus MacKenzie, Motor Trend’s Editor-in-Chief said it was clear from the beginning:

“The Evoque quickly emerged as the stand-out vehicle of this year’s field during our testing,” said Angus MacKenzie, Editor-in-Chief of Motor Trend. “Its performance against the award criteria was very strong. With its dramatic styling, refined on-road manners, and impressive off-road ability, the Evoque sets the benchmark for the fast-growing compact luxury SUV class. Land Rover has a worldwide hit on its hands with the Range Rover Evoque.”

Interesting, the magazine said that it found the Evoque’s rakish roofline didn’t make for a lack of headroom for rear passengers. This is all high praise indeed. We’ll see how the marketplace takes to this new, entirely different kind of Land Rover.

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When Jaguar and Land Rover were originally purchased by the Tata Group, they were money losing entities. Many expected the (at the time) thriving Tata to provide support for the companies while they worked to gain profitability. But, a funny thing happened – Jaguar and Land Rover’s models exceeded sales expectations.

Now, they are generating handsome profits. Land Rover is selling increasing quantities of its SUVs up and down the range. This comes amid launch of the Evoque, a vehicle some say betrays some of the famous off-road capability the company is known for. Tests have disagreed with that logic, but the DC100 concept indicates Land Rover could be returning to its roots in a big way.

Land Rover and Jeep (and formerly HUMMER) are regarded as the world’s leaders in off-road vehicles. An iconic model for Land Rover has been the Defender, dating back all the way to 1948 in different variations. A replacement has been discussed for years, but we finally have a date for launch – 2015 – right from Land Rover.

The DC100 Concept gives a hint of what to expect from the next-generation model. While it looks pretty production-ready to us, it apparently is not a production preview concept. The DC100 is to test the waters and see what public reaction it receives – good or bad.

At first glance the DC100 is rugged and clearly a successor to the Defender. We like that is thoroughly modern as well and not overtly retro, Land Rover says it is embarking on a four-year journey to the Defender’s 2015 launch.

Land Rover’s chief of design Gerry McGovern, says “Replacing the iconic Defender is one of the biggest challenges in the automotive design world; it is a car that inspires people worldwide. This isn’t a production-ready concept but the beginning of a four-year journey to design a relevant Defender for the 21st century.”

Brand director John Edwards (not THAT John Edwards….) adds that “We plan to engage with existing and potential customers to help us finalize the details of the new vehicle….one thing’s for sure, it’s going to be an exciting journey, and we can’t wait to get along.” The next Defender looks to take it to the Jeep Wrangler, and serve as a lower-cost volume model for Land Rover.

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When you think of highly capable off-road vehicles, especially luxurious ones, Land Rover is a name that immediately comes to mind.

Land Rover has been successful sticking to that formula for many years. More recently the company has branched out with performance-oriented models, but overall they still retained core Land Rover traits.

The new Evoque changes the equation and aims for a different sort of customer. A Land Rover for those who won’t be navigating treacherous terrain everyday (and let’s face it, the majority of Land Rover buyers don’t…but the capability is nice). The small luxury crossover market is high in volume and profitability, and the Evoque is positioned right in the heart of that market.

While we usually aren’t fans of exercises in any kind of brand dilution, we love the Evoque – especially the (impractical) two-door model. It sticks out as uniquely Land Rover, with a design that really defines it as something special. You won’t mistake it for anything else on the road. The price tag also makes it standout, based on new information Land Rover has released. The four-door model starts at $43,995 and the coupe, at $44,995. Both prices include destination and delivery charges.

Another necessity for Land Rover is meeting Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, and the Evoque will increase them significantly. EPA estimates check in at 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.

Those numbers are reached thanks to an aerodynamic design and focus on lightweight materials. The four-door model weighs 3,680 pounds and utilizes high-strength steel, polymer and composites, aluminum and magnesium various places to achieve that figure.

Stunning design really makes the Evoque inside and out. We’re looking forward to checking it out in person. We think its great Land Rover went ahead with the concept-like two-door model too – even though it isn’t likely to be a very large volume seller.

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Gathering around a elegantly-accented platter of exotic delights with a glass of port being casually sipped, your social circle can now rejoice with the knowledge that the awaited 2012 Land Rover Evoque has answered the gossip. While the Land Rover Evoque concept vehicle made its debut in July, fine details and technical specifications have shown up fashionably later with more than two months passing.

Presenting the same blend of grace and sportiness in a utility vehicle, the Land Rover Evoque will be presented through one of the following three design themes: Pure, Prestige and Dynamic. Pure, as the name would suggest, shows the Evoque in its basic but beautiful form with a neutral-coloured interior accompanied with soft-touch materials and brushed aluminum trim. The Prestige version of the Land Rover Evoque captures more of a luxury look wrapping the interior surfaces with leather while the exterior is now accented by 19-inch sparkling metallic wheels. Mixing adding a generous amount of aggressive performance to premium accompaniments, the Dynamic package provides an array of exterior dress-ups including unique grille, bumpers and tailpipes as well as an option of a contrasting roof and spoiler colour scheme. Sports seats and bright hues in the Evoque’s cabin truly makes the upscale Evoque Dynamic an exciting ride. A panoramic glass roof is also available bringing the interior alive with sunlight.

As promised in the early news release, Land Rover has devoted itself to a high-efficiency powertrain when producing the Evoque. Opting for high-technology and compact design, Land Rover introduces their 2-liter inline-four. This Evoque engine is more than a liter smaller than the LR2′s powerplant while generating greater luxury muscle. Producing 240 brake horsepower, direct injection and turbocharging are used to coax much of that power in a similar fashion to Ford’s EcoBoost powerplant. While specific fuel economy numbers still unknown, Land Rover has a good chance seeing the Evoque becoming the first vehicle in the line-up to push beyond a 20 mile per gallon fuel consumption.

Permanent all-wheel drive comes with the Land Rover Evoque supported by the brand’s Terrain Response® system. An optional handling advancement includes the Adpative Dynamics with MagneRide providing sharper control and more subdued body roll.

With a fall of 2011 sale date planned, the $45,000 U.S. Land Rover Evoque also boasts available features like a 17-speaker high-end Meridian audio system, a rear-seat entertainment video screens with wireless headphones and a Surround Camera System which provides video vantage points in five locations around the Evoque.

Photo and image source: Land Rover

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Keeping in mind that Hummer received much of the flack for creating the macho-luxury sport utility vehicle market, Land Rover should be credited for actually popularizing the trend. Presented the Range Rover in the limited edition Vogue Estate 2-door in 1981 cemented the future for the once deeply-seeded utilitarian brand into a luxury staple worthy even to the British royal majesty Queen Elizabeth II. While the long-running Defender model maintained the auto company’s core beliefs of ruggedness, the Land Rover Vogue charted a path to offering more upscale SUVs which dominates the North American lineup. As the clock turns to 30 years since the trend-inspiring Vogue, Land Rover dedicates a new luxury SUV which also radiates the modern pursuit for better efficiency.

Starting life as a party crasher on Range Rover’s celebrity-studded 40 year celebration in Kensington Place, London, the Land Rover Evoque debuted showing off their lightest and most fuel efficient offering. Set for North American dealership fall of 2011, this early showing of the Land Rover Evoque will coincide with the 30th anniversary of the original Vogue Range Rover.

Garnished with all the promise of the Land Rover LRX concept car to a production vehicle, the Evoque’s exterior aesthetics are a dead-ringer to last year’s show darling. With a sharp, low roof line worn over sculpted two-door SUV bodywork, the Evoque encapsulates Land Rover’s styling DNA within the sportiest manner seen from the British-based company. Leading into the specially-proportioned body, the Evoque’s front end headlamps and grille constructs a fierce, aggressive face. While one of the most styling-conscious vehicle to be exercised by Land Rover, 21st century luxury tastes makes the Evoque a sharp, trendy high-class SUV.

Leaving few details on the technical specifications, it is hoped that the limited edition Land Rover Evoque will again echoes the LRX concept’s features. Advertised in show vehicle form as a mild hybrid setup utilizing a starter-generator and regenerative braking, the LRX four-wheel drive system incorporated an their Electric Rear Axle Drive aiding on fuel efficient motoring on and even off-road.

Appearing just under three months prior to its official public introduction at the upcoming Paris Auto Show, the Land Rover Evoque is not a vehicle which believes in being fashionably late. When the Evoque arrives late next year to showrooms, the entry will still invoke a red carpet treatment.

Information and Photo Source: Land Rover

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Well how cool is this? The British government will be funding research into using jet turbines as onboard generators for electric vehicles. The U.K.’s Technology Strategy Board awarded $1.8 million in funding to Jaguar-Land Rover, Bladon Jets and SR Drives. The turbine-based range extender will use a small jet turbine capable of burning a wide range of fuels to generate electricity to extend the range of electric vehicles.

Although it sounds about as practicable as using a blowtorch to get inside a gumball machine, there are number advantages in using an axial-flow micro turbine, e.g. a jet engine. They can be manufactured to be very compact in size, be light weight, and at low cost. Using a turbine for primary drive systems in personal vehicles has proven unrealistic due to a lack of low-end torque, noise, expense, and high fuel consumption. But using a small axial-flow micro turbine to provide on-board recharging of electric batteries appears to be a legitimate solution.

Like a number of car manufacturers, the Rover Company, Jaguar-Land Rover’s predecessor, experimented in jet-powered cars in the 1950s. Rover built a car called the JET1, the first ever jet-powered passenger car. It was capable of 88 mph at 50,000 rpm, and could run on gasoline, kerosene, or diesel. The JET1 concept generated a race car developed with the BRM Formula One team that the great Graham Hill co-drove at the 24 Hours of Le Mans that could top out at 142 mph. Although the technology sort-of worked on a track, it proved too inefficient and expensive for production-car use.

Fast forward to today, and the consortium of British companies behind the micro-turbine tech says it can save up to 220 pounds over a gasoline-powered range-extending piston engine, like the engine used in the upcoming Chevy Volt. Not only will using a turbine cut weight, but it will also cut CO2 emissions slightly. The developer of the micro turbine, Bladon Jets, says a suitable turbine is just 5 percent of the size, weight and parts count of a typical piston engine.

The technology isn’t expected to make it into road-going cars for another 5 to 15 years, but it’s still a pretty cool idea.

Source: Motor Authority

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We’ve all met them – the loud, obnoxious jerks who insist on using some of the worst pick-up lines in existence, and effectively making asses of themselves. Land Rover’s new promo for their support on British Eventing gives a guy what’s coming to him.

Sponsored by Land Rover

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