Good News Bad News: The Defender Returns

Since Land Rover’s announcement of a “Global Redesign” on the iconic Defender at the Paris Auto Show, forums have been alight with discussion on the vehicle’s return to the USDM.

But whoever’s running the show over there better be careful- because the 4×4 crowd is a conservative lot; it’s hardly uncommon to see leaf springs and carburators at on an off-road course.  And most enthusiasts, including myself, are cynical and wary that this “re-imagining” of a classic will simply translate to “castrating” since nobody with the money to buy a 2012+ Land Rover is going anywhere they might get it dirty.

Jalopnik released this older photo of the Defender concept, to a nearly unanimous “boo” from its commentators.

“There will be a new Defender, and it will be tough as nails,” says Land Rover design director Gerry McGovern.

Hmm, galvanized burly-man city-building nails or the kind of nails that get done at a salon?

Frankly, I don’t much care what the new Defender looks like because when I buy my next Land Rover it’s going to be old enough to be my dad.  Or an RRC.

But I do think this illustrative vehicle is pretty close to what we’ll see in the desert/Newbury Street when it gets dropped.  Land Rover drew a wacky concept with the Evoque- then built it.  So now… we wait.