Is it an all-new Land Rover Defender? Not quite; that would be a daunting task. But Land Rover is looking to breathe new life back into famed nameplate and is taking its time, testing the waters with the DC100 concept.
Debate about the vehicle's looks has been raging since before the show started, but this is the first chance for people to see the concept in the flesh. Can it really replace the Defender? The jury is still out.
More coverage from the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show
2011 Land Rover DC100
Land Rover DC100 Sport Concept
Land Rover DC100 Sport Concept
Land Rover DC100 Sport Concept
What is it? The first step on a four-year process of designing a 21st-century Land Rover Defender, the DC100 is intended to "inspire people to dream about the Defenders of the future" and open up debate on the direction Land Rover should take.
What's hot? You can see Land Rover has gone for a utilitarian-chic look. It maintains a boxy, spacious design but appears to borrow from the Evoque's styling bag.
What's not? With the celebrity chic of the Evoque, there's a concern that Land Rover could be getting a bit Lotus and forgetting its roots. Will the new Defender still be an honest, utilitarian 4x4 for farmers or simply another urban style accessory?
How much and when? An evolution of this design will be with us in 2015. However, this one is pure concept; we can't buy anything quite like this one yet.
MSN Autos' verdict: Lovers of the current Defender need to call Land Rover and make their voices heard.
[[%LNKMeet the Land Rover DC100 Concept|AutosBlogPost|cc0aec90-5a56-4a04-b0a3-c320ed303c09
