LAND ROVER DEFENDER GETS A MODERN MAKEOVER The DC100 (Defender Concept 100) study highlights LAND ROVER’S ideas for updating the iconic Defender while keeping the character of the SUV that launched in 1948. The British brand plans to introduce a fresh version of the rugged, boxy off-roader in 2015. The next Defender will need to balance the model’s key characteristics while finding ways to win new customers, managing director John Edwards said. Among the ideas showcased in the DC100 are: ■ A terrain scanner with technology similar to that found on fighter jets to warn of potential obstacles when the SUV is being driven off road and offer alternative routes. The scanner projects a 3-D picture onto a touchscreen. ■ A sonar system called Wade Aid to help drivers steer through water courses. ■ A system to activate spikes on the tires for better traction on slippery surfaces ■ A front row of three seats, an arrangement similar to that of the first Defender. Land Rover is owned by India’s Tata Motors. IAA 2011 POCKET GUIDE 43