Land Rover to discontinue legendary Defender model

by Damien Sharkov
Every once in a while a name comes along that is destined for iconic status. The necessary recipe for such an accolade is usually nothing short of the perfect blend of pragmatic practicality and sheer stylistic brilliance.
Britain has produced a handful of memorable automotive icons, among them the mini, E-type Jaguar or James Bond’s own Aston Martin DB5.
All are impressive in their own right, but none are capable enough to outdo the Land Rover Defender in absolute brawny muscle.
The Defender spans a history of seven decades, having carried royals and 007 himself aboard. With new strict emissions regulations, however, it seems the illustrious 4×4 will finally bend to the demands of history, as Land Rover has announced it is to be discontinued.
With this in mind, CaravanTimes would like to take a moment to pay tribute a British icon, as it sings its swan song.
The story of the 4×4 is not unlike James Bond himself as its conception of dates back to World War II as its earliest incarnation was modelled on a World War II Jeep, immediately being drafted into royal service.
The earliest versions of the Defender were used by Her Majesty the Queen on many a foreign visits.
One of the Land Rover Defender’s recent models even joined forces with MI6’s infamous employee on the silver screen in the biggest British blockbuster of all time – Skyfall.
“A grand old warship being ignominiously hauled away for scrap,” laments Q, as a greying, battered Bond scowls through his colleague’s running commentary of Turner’s ubiquitous painting.
“Age is no guarantee of efficiency,” Q adds. “And youth is no guarantee of innovation,” Bond retorts.
Steve Fowler of Auto Express hails the popular car’s “iconic status”. Admitting the Defender also captures “a very important market for Land Rover, one of its three pillars with the Range Rover and the Discovery.”
The Defender has made a name for itself, which is almost synonymous with durability as an estimated two thirds of its two million strong unit production history are still in use today.
Land Rover has announced a replacement for the beloved 4×4 will be introduced in 2016 which will comply with stricter regulations. Its design is to pay close homage to the legendary Defender.
However, if the DC100 concept is anything to go by, the influence of the popular Range Rover will be present in the next regeneration of the Defender.
We do not expect the Land Rover Defender to stay down for long, as it has proven time and time again it is not in its character to bend or break.
Until we are treated to its successor, however, we take a moment to salute its 67 years of towing reliability and off road excellence.