McGovern: spot the new Defender clues

Land Rover design chief reveals the objects that have influenced his work.

MODERNISM IS ONE of the biggest elements of Land Rover design chief Gerry McGovern’s thinking. Which means he’s faced a particularly tricky challenge in the design of the new Defender – a car that replaces a much-loved piece of automotive history. A lot of people will be disappointed if it keeps the name but nothing else, because they’re expecting and hoping for something that embraces the Land Rover heritage. But retro is not McGovern’s style.

In a talk to celebrate the Range Rover Velar winning the Design of the Year gong in the World Car of the Year awards, McGovern looked back over the history of car design, his own 40-year (and counting) career, and the places, objects and cars that shaped his tastes. Defender clues must be here, but where?

Whereas Audi designers look like their cars – cheekbones, polo necks, frameless specs – Gerry McGovern is a glorious one-o