Land Rover has started work on its replacement to the 62-year-old Defender
By Andrew C., 30 Aug, 2010. 0 Comments
Land Rover Logo
Land Rover's replacement to the Defender is reported to be known to insiders as Project Icon. Land Rover has only been working on this replacement for a little over two weeks after parent company Tata Motors had signed off funds for a full engineering and design program for the car. What this means is that Project Icon now has its own slot in the company's product cycle. The replacement to the 62-year-old Defender is set to be launched in 2014. Currently, Land Rover is working out the positioning of the car and marketing. It also seeks to sort out the model line-up of its core off-roader range.
Land Rover insiders say that the company has acknowledged the need for greater clarity for the brand's lineup. The Project Icon is slated to be the company's flagship for at least the next 20 years. It isn't likely that Project Icon will take the Defender name for production. What would be carried over are the car's looks and values.
Previously, the car had been tipped be underpinned by the firm's T5 steel platform chassis. It is believed that Land Rover's Electric Rear Axle Drive (ERAD) technology, which it displayed in a Freelander in 2008, could be used in Project Icon to help improve economy and reduce emissions.
Latest Auto Shows
