Land Rover two official videos starring the two concept cars on display at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show: Land Rover DC100 e DC100 Sport. The footage shows us the two models strolling around in a desert and on beach, offering a few close-ups on some of the most interesting details.

The two models are basically an anticipation of what will become the new Defender, the iconic model from the British manufacturer that will soon exit the market. We just hope that despite the smoother and more friendly design of these two concepts, the next Defender will live up to the fierce off-road reputation of its predecessor. Click on the “Continue Reading” link below the thumbnails to access the second videoclip.

Videos | Autoblog.it

Continue reading: Land Rover DC100 e DC100 Sport: new official videos available

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Land Rover will bring two concept cars at the upcoming 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show: the DC100 and the DC100 Sport. The two models will be just a little different from the concepts showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show, especially the DC100, that will sport a new two-tone color scheme using Heritage Blue and Candy Weiss.

Other new features will include 20″ alloy wheels fitted with Cooper tyres, roof rack and an intake snorkel for wading through deep water. Apparently Land Rover is using these DC100 concepts to verify the public reaction to their new ideas, in view of the possible debut of a DC100-based model in 2015 that will eventually replace the historic Defender.

View the full Land rover DC100 e DC100 Sport - Salone di Los Angeles 2011 photo gallery

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German small independent automaker Travec has just unveiled the Tecdrah TTi, a new off-road model sharing the same engine range, all-wheel drive and interior with Dacia Duster. However, the similarities between the two models end here as there’s nothing in the Tecdrah TTi’s look that would remind you of the affordable Romanian off-roader (owned by Renault).

In an attempt to keep weight as low as possible, the car uses a steel frame mounted on a tubular structure made of aluminum bars while the bodywork is not made of conventional metal panels but uses ABS plastic, 70% of which can be recycled. As a result, its weight ranges from 990 to 1,290 kg depending on engine, transmission and on whether the car is equipped with front or all wheel drive.

Travec Tecdrah TTi comes with either a 1.6-liter petrol engine or a 1.5-liter dCi engine delivering 90 hp. Performance numbers announced by Travec in the official press release mention a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in 14.9 seconds and a top speed of 149 km/h (92.5 mph).

View the full Travec Tecdrah TTi photo gallery

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According to Autocar, the current Land Rover Defender range will be produced until 2017, at least. Quoting an internal source from Land Rover, it seems that a recent change in the legislation will allow the British manufacturer to keep the model in production a little longer than what they thought. A new set of emissions regulation rules that was supposed to come into effect in 2015 would have meant the end for the Defender, but a ‘derogation’ has now postponed to whole thing to 2020. Then, the fact that a few years back the model was re-classified as ‘commercial vehicle’ might have played a part in that, too.

However, Land Rover plans to release a new short-paced version of the Defender in 2015 will not be affected by the change as both models will be on sale at the same time for a few years. The new Defender was anticipated at the last Frankfurt Motor Show by the DC100 Concept, a prototype powered by a 2.0 litre diesel engine coupled with 8-Speed automatic transmission and Start/Stop system. The concept car used a new generation Terrain Response system with new functionalities and was also equipped with Terrain-i and Wave Aid systems: the former suggests the driver alternative routes through the LCD screen placed in the middle of the dashboard, the latter measures water depth in front of the car before crossing.

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German tuner Delta 4×4 presents a new package for Volkswagen Amarok. The VW pick-up truck has been modified for off-road use, and for this reason the ride height has been increased by 10cm, giving the front-end 36 degrees of driving slope. 18″ and 20″ alloy wheels options are available, fitted with Mickey Thompson mud-terrain tires which are barely covered by the additional fenders.

The car uses PIAA lights on the front and on the top of the unusual rear roll bar. The original 2-litres TDI engine delivering 163 hp has been re-worked too, providing this tuning with an extra 30hp. All components of this package can be purchased separately, but this Delta 4×4’s interpretation of Volkswagen Amarok can also be bought with its full equipment for about 50,000 €.

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The future Land Rover Defender is here and after its debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, it is making quite a splash for fans of the iconic offroader. The future of the Defender, and even the Land Rover brand in general, will come out of the DC100 and DC100 Sport Concepts seen live at Frankfurt.

The design team, headed by Gerry McGovern, has managed to pick up the very square model and make its edges nastier and more full of character, but without creating an animated, cartoonish version. We like what we see and judging by the reactions of others at the show, so do most.

While the concept features solar panels on the roof of the DC100 and fold-down elements on the DC100 Sport, other details which are more likely to be seen on a possible future model include a wheelbase of 254 cm, height off the ground of 32 cm thanks to 22-inch wheels, and at this stage a two-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine with Start&Stop technology. It gets an automatic eight-speed transmission and new generation Terrain Response electronic drive assist system.

Land Rover DC100 and DC100 Sport official pics

Continue reading: Land Rover DC100 Concept official pics

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What do you do with a 63-year-old automobile icon? You give it a total facelift and voilà - you have the new Land Rover DC100 Concept and these live pics from the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The new Land Rover Defender is set to get a totally revamped generation in the future, and this is the model which should herald a significant change.

While currently viewed more for its design features, the DC100 (and DC100 Sport) will be more than just a younger, prettier face. But at this stage that’s where we see most of the changes, with a rounded off look, brand new front end, high-tech features, 21-inch wheels and solar roof panels (we like this idea for the future environmental viability of the Defender).

On the inside we get what Land Rover’s calling “social seating” - a fancy name for the traditional bench seat. Or in this case a third front seat which folds down. Currently the engine equipping the DC100 Concept is a two-litre diesel with start&stop and an eight-speed gearbox. Next generation Terrain Response system features with Terrain-i for alternative route selection and Wave Aid for measuring water depth before crossing. The Defender just got awfully cool. Check it out in the DC100 live pics below.

Continue reading: Land Rover DC100 Defender Concept live at 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show

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Let’s forget the fact that new Land Rover Defender hasn’t gone into production yet. In fact, let’s even put aside the fact that the Land Rover DC100 Concept will only get its official presentation next week at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show, and take a look at this Project Kahn Defender tuning proposal based on the concept.

The all-English affair delves into the icon that the Defender is, and hopefully will continue to be if a future generation is produced, and takes a look at just how versatile and varyingly hard core this offroader can be. We get various renderings on the DC100 from going surfing, to getting a military makeover.

If the Land Rover Defender does get a new generation, and the DC100 turns out to be as good at Frankfurt as we think it might be, we’re more than happy to welcome all of these new Defender tuning efforts in the future.

Project Kahn Land Rover Defender DC100 Concept renderings

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This is like outback Australia meets British colonial African offroad machine. That’s right, the Land Rover Defender DC100 Concept to hit the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show halls has already been rendered as a kind of pick-up.

In this configuration, the DC100 gets a longer wheelbase, a couple of extra doors and the back chopped off to make way for a flat-bed storage space. We haven’t decided whether we like it or not, but we can certainly see some use for it somewhere.

Source | Kilometer via Autoblog

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It looks like there will be a new generation Land Rover Defender and we’ll get a preview of it with the Land Rover DC100 concept at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show next month. Among the coupes, crossovers and sedans it’s refreshing to feel like we’re getting back to some raw motoring roots with the legendary Defender.

That might suggest though, that this is a wishy washy concept where Land Rover didn’t want to risk too much playing with an icon. Instead what we get is a bold design proposal that should carry the tradition of the offroader into a modern, 2015 Land Rover Defender production vehicle.

The big challenge for Land Rover has clearly been to envision a future Defender in a world where cars must be greener, sportier, more luxurious and far less hard core than the classic offroader. As designer 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. The DC100 isn’t a production-ready concept, but the beginning of a four-year journey to design a relevant Defender for the 21st century.

Land Rover DC100 Defender Concept

Continue reading: Land Rover DC100 Defender Concept

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