Land Rover's new Defender, due to be unveiled at the forthcoming Frankfurt Motor Show, will not have the same impact as its predecessors, an expert has claimed.
Andrew Blackall, a devotee of vintage motors and an antique specialist, claimed that the new Defender was a crossover between a Freelander and Skoda Yeti and was the epitome of the old adage "nostalgia ain't what it used to be".
"I doubt it will ever have the same kudos as the old beefy lump of retro British eccentricity and cunning know-how [of] the old Defender," argued Mr Blackall, possibly echoing sentiments of many classic car insurance policyholders.
Labelled the DC100, Land Rover claims its new concept model "investigates the potential future" of the direction the marque's iconic vehicle could take. The design team, led by Gerry McGovern, stated the new model represents the beginning of a four-year journey to develop a car which is relevant to the 21st century, having confirmed that by 2015, a new Defender will be hitting showrooms worldwide.
However, Mr Blackall suggested that the car aimed to appeal more to city drivers rather than the "generations" of British farmers the original had endeared itself to.
"The new Defender will be true to its heritage," reassured the manufacturer's global brand director John Edwards, adding that the company intended to "engage" with existing and potential customers to help settle design plans for the new vehicle.
Responding to changing consumer and industry demands, the latest Defender was touted as the cleanest and most fuel-efficient version of the model to be available to motorists. Originally produced back in 1948, the Defender performs diverse purposes for a variety of people. Worldwide use by Non-Governmental Organisations, armed forces and retail and utility customers meant Land Rover's quintessential off-roader earned a reputation for reliability and versatility, according to the brand.
The Defender concept vehicle will be unveiled at 09:15 local time on the first day of the event. The International Frankfurt Motor Show runs from September 13th to 25th.
