Land Rover: New direction and new Defender model
Land Rover took advantage of the recent New York Auto Show to unveil the Discovery Vision Concept. Much more than just a concept, the vehicle is the harbinger of an important change for the manufacturer, certainly the most significant in years. When all is said and done, there will be three families of vehicles under the Land Rover banner, each offering luxury, advanced technology and—you guessed it—excellent off-road capabilities.
Little will change in the first family, which is already fairly complete. The Range Rover clan is at the top of the pyramid in terms of luxury and price. This bunch are the most prestigious of all Land Rover models.
The Discovery moniker was dropped in North America several years ago and replaced with the LR badge (LR2 and LR4). But the tides have turned and the Discovery name is back, now representing a new family of vehicles. Eventually, the Discovery models will replace their LR counterparts. The first, the Discovery Sport, will be available in 2015. It will be a compact SUV closely inspired by the Discovery Vision Concept and will focus on luxury and versatility by offering what Land Rover brass are calling bold functionalities.
The third major announcement pertains to the North American Defender model, which will round out the third family of Land Rover vehicles. Already sold in other markets, the Defender is without a doubt the Jeep Wrangler’s closest rival, thanks to its tireless and robust character.
