Two Defender concepts at Frankfurt Motor Show

Land Rover's concept Defender models DC100 and DC100 Sport are chock-full of innovative design features, including roof-mounted solar panels and Wade Aid which uses sonar technology to assess water depth.

The DC100 uses lightweight and recycled materials, the body is formed from mixed alloys.

There are a plethora of on-board systems including an aluminium inductive charging strip down the centre of the vehicle which, in the DC100 Sport, is used to either chill or heat a removable compartment.

In DC100 the inductive strip can be used to charge a range of power tools on the move. A further charging area to one side is used in DC100 Sport for charging a bespoke removable speaker system from audio specialists Meridian that wirelessly streams music from ‘concept to cabana’. In DC100 this feature can be used to charge communication equipment or laptops.

The DC100 roof is equipped with solar panels to power these on-board systems, reducing the load on the engine and lowering emissions. Its exterior is painted in soft metallic silver intended to reflect the sun’s rays, keeping the interior cool in hot climates and reducing the demands on the climate-control system. Meanwhile the Sport is painted ‘an exhilarating metallic amber that echoes the vibrant ochre hues found in Africa’.

Retro cues

 The Sport takes its cue from the early canvas-roofed Defenders with their fold-down windscreens and features a wrap-around aero screen and cut-down side windows.

These concepts also recreate the Series 1 three-abreast seating layout. If you don’t have two pals to cosy up to, the passenger seat can be folded out of the way to increase carrying capacity.

Space suit interior material

The cabins of both concepts have been chosen for their sustainability both in terms of composition and manufacture, such as seat foam derived from castor oil and semi-structural panels and sound insulating boards made from flax and natural polymers.

Complementing this is Superfabric, an almost indestructible textile. Normally found in protective clothing for extreme environments – including spacesuits - DC100 uses it on the seat cushions and to line the footwells and rear load space.

Wade Aid

Land Rover has developed a sonar-based system for assessing water depth. Sensors mounted in the bumpers and wing mirrors measure depth and, by working in conjunction with inclinometers, recognise whether the level is increasing or decreasing. All this information is displayed in a graphic on the central touchscreen.

The system will also automatically optimise the concept for a water crossing by raising the ride height, closing body vents, selecting a lower gear to maintain engine revs and advising on the optimum speed for the depth of water, allowing a maximum wading depth of 750mm.

On-demand spiked tyres

There is also a driver-deployable spiked tyre system. This is operated by an electro-mechanical system mounted within the tyre on the inside of the wheel; activation of the technology causes air to inflate a secondary air chamber, filling pods moulded into the tread of the tyre which contain the spikes.  The spikes rise just above the tread surface and fix into place for driving on packed snow and ice.