HOW WILL THEY COMPARE, LOOKS-WISE?

WHILE NEW Defender will display similarities with the old car, it’s clear Land Rover doesn’t want to create a replica of the original. Speaking at last year’s Paris Motor Show, JLR’S Chief Marketing Officer Felix Bräutigam said: “The new Defender will not simply be a copy-cat, something retro. It will be something that moves the game on for Land Rover.”

According to LRM’S sister magazine, Auto Express, who have spotted both short- and long-wheelbase prototypes on test, the new LWB model “looks vast – similar in stature to the current Discovery,” adding: “While it’s clear that design cues from the modern Land Rover and Range Rover models will make their way onto the off-roader, there are other details that will clearly mark the car out as a true Land Rover Defender.

“The headlights seem to feature a clear round headlamp with small indicator bulbs to the side, [while] the tail lights appear to be similar to those of the car that the new Defender will replace. A side-hinged tailgate gives access to the luggage bay.”

Meanwhile, Projekt Grenadier will mirror the old Defender. Dirk Heilmann, CEO of Ineos Automotive, hinted at a retro design, with a boxy shape and surfaces “flat enough to rest a mug on”. It seems likely that Grenadier will bear a closer resemblance to old Defender than will new Defender.

Like the old Defender, Grenadier is expected to come in a range of body styles, including a station wagon, pick-up and double-cab, to compete directly with the main competitors from Japan, America and Europe, including Volkswagen Amarok and Ford Ranger.

As befits a working vehicle, Ineos plans to make the Grenadier utilitarian and functional, with an austere cabin which forgoes such luxuries as carpet and sound deadening. Leather will be used on the seats purely for its durability and drain plugs will be included, allowing the driver to hose out the interior.