Due to safety and emissions legislation, production of the current Defender cannot continue past late 2015, a Land Rover executive has told just-auto.com. It also seems likely that the replacement will not follow immediately in early 2016.
Murray Dietsch, the head of Programmes for Land Rover, states in an interview that JLR is looking at reinventing the Defender in a variety of ways, but insists that what he calls an “iconic” vehicle will be replaced. He would not be drawn on whether or not rumours of multiple bodystyles will be proved correct.
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Industry sources have suggested that as well as a replacement for the existing utilitarian Defender, a high-priced direct rival for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class would be part of what is rumoured to be a far more extensive line-up.
Author: Glenn Brooks
