After five decades of conquering unimaginable terrains, the boxy do-it-all Defender by Land Rover is getting an update. The recognition for this automotive icon can be claimed anywhere in the globe and it is about time for the designers and engineers to pay homage to classic vehicle and give it a used look.

The team responsible for the new Defender is working with their drawing boards covered under the moniker Project Icon. The aim is to update the elderly Defender and apply principles of modern design to make its lines more appealing to today's consumers. Land Rover wishes to keep the vehicle simple and preserve its capability for which the Defender is known for. The new Defender might avoid the aluminum body but in lieu borrow some idea from the rugged steel body works of the Range Rover and the Discovery. Most of its current siblings in the garage are going for the lighter aluminum but the ruggedness of the Defender might be calling for a harder shell.

It will initially be assembled in England but the automobile maker has designs to spread production in China, India, and Russia. The upgrade of the Defender to T5 chassis will involve installing independent suspension, air or steel springs, and a choice between soft or hard roofing. The engine will most likely from the range of five or three cylinders jogging on diesel. Most likely, the new Defender won't touch the American shore. The last stint of the vehicle on U.S. grounds was in the coursework of the 1990s.