It's early morning on the beach in Santa Monica, California. We're here because Land Rover has offered us an exclusive first drive of the Land Rover DC100 Sport. Originally unveiled at the Frankfurt auto show in September, this multimillion-dollar concept previews the first all-new Defender since 1948.

The scene is about as far away from the traditional image of a Defender as it's possible to get. The vibe is more Baywatch than Botswana thanks to Land Rover's decision to hire Kristen Dalton, Miss USA 2009, to pose with the car in a tiny red swimsuit. It's all improbably kitsch, but at the heart of this set-piece stunt is a vehicle that retains the hard-core off-road skills and appeal of the original. At least that's what Land Rover says.

The Look
When it arrives in 2015 the new Defender must be "capable, usable and abusable," says Global Brand Director John Edwards. This, Edwards reckons, is a vehicle for the developing world that can nevertheless seduce "the Californian surfer dude." And Miss USA, presumably.

Land Rover has so far shown us two concepts for the future Defender. The DC100 is a two-door wagon, while the Sport is a more fashion-focused roadster. Edwards admits that they're likely to lead with the wagon, but that a plethora of different body styles will arrive in due course.

When it was unveiled back in Frankfurt, the concept drew some criticism for appearing too toylike, especially from traditional Defender customers. Posing the Land Rover DC100 Sport on an American beach with Miss USA is only likely to inflame their ire, but Design Director Gerry McGovern is unconcerned.

"In 1999 when I was first at Land Rover we were discussing a potential Defender replacement," he says. "When I returned in 2007 the decision still hadn't been made. The Defender is an icon and the new version needs to acknowledge it, but we must not be harnessed by heritage. A clamshell bonnet, for example, existed so that the engine would be easy to work on, but that's simply not necessary today."

What Is Necessary?
It will, in other words, be a reinterpretation, not a pastiche. "The new Defender needs to stretch its appeal to new generations," says McGovern, who even on the beach comes dressed in a jacket, shirt, jeans and Panerai watch. "People today have lifestyle activities that didn't even exist when we designed the original. But it will be indestructible. You'll be able to kick the hell out of it and it'll get up for more."

The new Defender will be very different in tone from the utilitarian tool it replaces.

McGovern is defensive when quizzed about the criticism he received when the concepts were first shown. "Our own analysis shows that the response was 90 percent positive, 8 percent neutral and 2 percent negative, and most of those 2 percent were traditionalists."

Edwards is more philosophical. "I had predicted we'd get a lot of reaction and that some of it would be negative. I was involved in the development of the [2000] Mini and when I showed the R50 concept to the owners' clubs, some of them wanted to kill us. That is what you must expect. Overall, the reaction to DC100 reinforced what we wanted to do."

Both men admit that the final design has yet to be signed off. We expect the proportions of the DC100 to remain, but some of the details to be toughened up. There is even some evidence that this process has already begun. For the 2011 L.A. Auto Show, the wagon was repainted and a snorkel added to make it appear more rugged. Edwards says this will be the first variant to be launched, with the Sport likely to follow at a later date.

It's a Driver, Sort of
The Land Rover DC100 Sport is a proper concept car, built to order at vast expense. I jump onboard and close the door a little enthusiastically, prompting an equally enthusiastic response from the two minders charged with making sure it arrives at the show in one piece.

Inside, there's comfortable seating for two with a foldaway jump seat in the middle for occasional use. Three-abreast seating is a trick learned from the original 1948 Land Rover, and the company calls it "social seating." There's no dashboard as such, just a false central screen that looks like an iPad and a functioning gearstick for the automatic transmission.

It starts on the prod of a button hidden away in the transmission tunnel. The concept is fitted with a 5.0-liter V8 and an eight-speed auto from the Range Rover Sport, but "real" versions are more likely to feature turbocharged fours powered by both gasoline and diesel. A stop-start system will be standard, we expect a manual transmission to join the auto and a hybrid version is possible in the medium term.

All versions are likely to feature what Land Rover calls Driveline Disconnect. This system uses a clutch to decouple the rear axle from the center differential, so in normal conditions the Defender will be front-wheel drive. While this might horrify the purists, Land Rover reckons the friction savings equate to a 7 percent improvement in fuel economy.

Sized To Deliver on All Counts
The Land Rover DC100 Sport concept's wheelbase is 100 inches long (hence the DC100 name), which is 10 inches longer than the base Defender of today. Anyone who's driven the old model on the road will be relieved to hear that Land Rover is determined to ensure that its successor is as capable on tarmac as it is in the mud.

The concept employs a modified version of the chassis found in the LR4 and the Range Rover Sport. Code-named T5, it combines an old-school twin-rail structure with independent air suspension. A version of this setup remains a possibility for the new Defender, but there will almost certainly be a version with a passive suspension to keep costs down. This mix-and-match modularity will be crucial if the Defender is expected to cater to California beach bunnies and rural farmers alike.

The DC100's Pirelli tires have ludicrously shallow sidewalls to accommodate 22-inch rims, and their tread is better suited to the show floor than the beach. Still, we're able to gain traction and power around the lifeguard tower doing our best impression of the Hoff. This concept is little more than a clay model with a cobbled-together running gear. It therefore tells us precisely nothing about how the new Defender will feel, but it's still good fun to drive, and Miss USA seems suitably impressed.

More Gadgets Than MI5
While this first concept is far from fully functioning, Land Rover is using it as a showcase for future tech. Some of it is likely to debut on the production Defender, but much may also debut on other Land Rover products, starting with the all-new Range Rover due at the end of next year. Mike Boyd, Land Rover's succinctly titled chassis and vehicle capability delivery manager, admits his research department produces a range of new tech that can be plucked off the shelf and used by whichever project leader deems it appropriate.

Terrain-i is the name of Land Rover's next-generation Terrain Response system. While the current system requires the driver to recognize whether they're on sand or mud and choose the appropriate setting, Terrain-i employs high-definition sensors to read the surface and make its own selection. It will even draw a 3-D image of the road ahead and suggest evasive action if you're about to run over something you shouldn't. Don't be surprised to find it in the new Range Rover.

The Wade Aid system might also debut on Land Rover's flagship. The company already has a patent for a system that employs sonar sensors in the wing mirrors and bumpers to measure the depth of the water, while inclinometers determine whether it's increasing or decreasing. The system can then automatically set up the vehicle by closing vents, raising the suspension and selecting the appropriate gear to minimize the risk of flooding. Boyd says the DC100 has been designed with a maximum wading depth of 29.9 inches.

Slightly more fanciful are on-demand spiked tires. The electromechanical system uses air pressure to deploy spikes in what are otherwise regular tires. By releasing the pressure, the spikes can then be retracted when they're not required. According to Boyd, this is much more than sci-fi — Land Rover is actively working on a solution with an (unnamed) tire supplier.

Another futuristic gizmo that might just make production is a waterproof and shock-proof key system based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. A small transmitter built into a watch or bracelet could replace a more traditional key fob. In theory you'll be able to swim without risking the key being either drowned or nicked on the beach. Of all the gadgets previewed here, this one might just prove the most useful.

Final Thoughts
Land Rover's gurus are quick to point out that they have not yet finalized the design and the specification of the next-generation Defender. But while some of the details of the Land Rover DC100 will never be seen again, it's a clear signal of intent of what the company has in mind.

The new Defender will be very different in tone from the utilitarian tool it replaces. In order for it to be a commercial success, Land Rover has to expand the model's appeal. And if that means offending the traditionalists, then so be it. Judging by the excitement our drive on the beach generated, there will be more than enough nontraditional buyers waiting in the wings to take up the slack.

The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.