Next Land Rover Defender Will Be “Hard as Nails,” Available to U.S.

Land Rover’s presentation at the 2013 Paris Motor Show featured the unveiling of their all-new 2013 Range Rover and lots of talk regarding the future of the brand, including some interesting statements about the future of the Land Rover Defender.

International automotive shows are typically filled with exciting new vehicle prototypes, anxiously-awaited model redesigns, and the occasional statement or rumor that sends automotive bloggers into a frenzy. The 2013 Range Rover is a welcomed (and much needed) addition to the Land Rover fleet, and the Land Rover Defender featured in the James Bond film Skyfall is neat; but what REALLY grabbed our attention were the comments made by Land Rover’s (infamous?) design director, Gerry McGovern.

Speaking to the future, McGovern offered the following statement: “We know what we’re going to be doing over the next five, six, seven years.” He went on to note, “there will be a new Defender, and it will be tough as nails.” Jaguar Land Rover North America CEO Andy Gross also signaled the automaker’s intent to sell this new Defender in the U.S.

It is unclear whether McGovern is referring to the controversial DC100 concept that was originally introduced as the “next generation” Defender, or if there are indeed plans for an all-new Defender. McGovern couldn’t possibly be referring to the DC100 as “tough as nails,” right? Given the DC100’s poor reception as a Defender replacement, reports have suggested that Land Rover will ultimately brand the DC100 as something of an entry-level utility vehicle, which hopefully means a true Defender replacement is on the horizon.