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There aren't very many vehicles on our blue planet that have soldered on for 61 straight years, but the Land Rover Defender comes up on the short list. The Defender is reason numero uno why Land Rover has the off-road superstar status that it does, but the Detroit Free Press is reporting that the go anywhere SUV may finally be nearing the end of the dirt trail.

Land Rover managing director Phil Popham reportedly told Australian newsletter GoAutoNew that emissions and pedestrian safety laws will force the Tata Motors-owned automaker to either profoundly re-engineer or flat-out replace the Defender by 2013. The iconic Defender, which is also available in the U.S., hasn't even received major body work since 1983, which incidentally was the year Plinko was added to Price is Right. Popham insists that Land Rover won't replace the Defender with a kinder, gentler vehicle, adding that the new vehicle would offer even more on- and off-road capability, and we're guessing that any new model will come standard with more modern aesthetics inside and out.

While it's pretty clear that the Defender as we know it is likely on it's last set of knobby tires, there is still a decent chance that the geriatric SUV's successor could retain the Defender name. After all, you just don't throw away 61 years of name recognition on a whim, right?

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Land Rover officially confirmed today that it will build a production version of the LRX concept. In spite of the fact that the prototype model made its debut at the 2008 Detroit Auto Show with the Land Rover badge, the production LRX will bear the Range Rover logo making it the smallest model in the luxury brand's line-up. The three-door crossover will debut in production form next year to mark the 40th anniversary from the launch of the first Range Rover in 1970, and go on sale in 2011.

Earlier this year, the Jaguar-Land Rover Group, now owned by India's Tata Group, secured a UK Government grant of up to £27 million ($44.4 million - €30 million at today's exchange rates) to help aid the development of the LRX.

Land Rover said that the new car will be built at the firm's plant in Halewood, on Merseyside, and will be sold in more than 100 countries around the world.

"The production of a small Range Rover model is excellent news for our employees, dealers and customers," said Phil Popham, managing director of Land Rover.

"Feedback from our customer research also fully supports our belief that a production version of the LRX Concept would further raise the desirability of our brand and absolutely meet their expectations," Phil added.

Gerry McGovern, Land Rover design director said: "The new vehicle will be a natural extension to the Range Rover line-up, complementing the existing models and helping to define a new segment. It will be true to the concept and have many recognizable Range Rover design cues including the signature clamshell bonnet, the floating roof and the solid 'wheel-at-each-corner' stance."

Land Rover said that more details of the new small Range Rover will be released next year.

Via Listcarworld

Land Rover customizer Overfinch has teamed up with British sportgun and rifle maker Holland & Holland to create a limited production Ranger Rover. Based on either the 5.0-litre 503HP Supercharged or TDV8 diesel versions of the new 2010 MY Range Rover, the Holland & Holland features a raft of exterior and interior enhancements. On the outside the special Range gets 20-inch alloys (22's are optional) fitted with all season Mud & Snow tyres, special cast exhaust outlets and various tidbits from Overfinch's depot such as the headlamp and tail light treatments and the bumper trims.

Buyers can choose from four unique shades including Holland & Holland's Tintern Green and a two-tone paintwork, similar to that of a Rolls-Royce Phantom.

But it's the interior that makes this version special. For starters, all Holland & Holland Overfinch vehicles will be strict four-seaters as the cars get a unique centre console with an integrated refrigerator and a storage compartment, which fits between the individual rear seats.

The entire cabin including the seats, doors, upper and lower dash board, centre and rear consoles and even the cubby box lid, have been dressed in top-grade leathers with contrasting stitching. According to Overfinch, it takes over 150 man hours just to trim the car while if buyers select the optional aviation-style quilted leather or Alcantara headlining, it takes even longer.

Being a Range Rover and everything, Overfinch trimmed the interior with a thirty one piece wood veneer kit that is available in the choice of Olive Ash Gloss, European Burr Walnut with special diamond pattern inlay, Matt Gunstock Walnut and Piano Black Lacquer with silver inlays.

Moving towards the rear, the Range Rover's boot gets a bespoke 'cupboard' - more like your great, great grandma's cabinet- hand-crafted in veneers to match the interior woodwork. It comes with three drawers fitted to carry eight further matching Holland & Holland crystal tumblers and flutes, shotguns, a cleaning kit for them as well as cartridges and the bag in which to carry them.

Production will be limited to 100 units annually with prices starting from £120,894 (€81,900 or $196,000 US) for export, and £139,650 OTR in the UK.

If it makes you feel any better -for the price, that is, Overfinch said that it will replenish all six types of drinks (Pol Roger Champagne, Balvenie single malt whisky, Hendrick's single batch gin, Ivan the Terrible luxury vodka and Willow Spring Water), which are housed in the center console, for a whole year.