New Land Rover Defender will be showcased in the upcoming 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The auto show which would kick off in September 2011 will witness the launch of Defender as a concept vehicle. The company is at cross roads in deciding whether to develop the new model or to give up its production completely and hopes the feedback received at the auto show would help it decide the future of Defender.
Defender which is an iconic vehicle from the Land Rover and Tata Motors’ stable faces stiff competition from other vehicles in the segment apart from facing strict European emission regulations. Together these factors have led to an uncertain fate of the vehicle. Mr. Colin Green, Managing Director of Land Rover, UK, stated that although the current edition meets the emission regulations, it would be difficult for the new edition to meet the regulation standards. Land Rover which needs to sell 60,000-80,000 units of the Defender annually managed to sell only 18,000 units last year (2010).
The auto giant Land Rover hopes to use the feedback on the concept to decide the fate of Defender. Speculations are the concept which will be showcased at the auto show is expected to take on an LR4-inspired design.
