THOUSANDS flock to Los Angeles every year with a dream of making it big in Hollywood and all but a few leave with their hopes in tatters.

Jaguar and Land Rover travelled to the city of angels motor show in confident mood and came away with applause ringing in their ears. 

The Brit brands were the stars of the show with three concept models and the new Jaguar XKR-S convertible being revealed to the important USA market at the same time.

Land Rover's Defender is one of the most iconic vehicles in the world. It is a familiar site on every continent and its adaptability, toughness and go-anywhere capabilities means it is used by organisations like the UN and  Red Cross to bring relief to millions all over the planet.

Favoured by the military for its versatility the Defender has served all over the world for the past six decades and only now faces retirement because of increasingly tight legislation.

The Defender has not actually been sold in the USA for over 15 years but Land Rover does intend to sell its replacement in this huge market and brought its two concept Defenders to LA to test the market.

The DC100 and the DC100 Sport received a great reception from the American media and  the cars also wowed the car-mad California public when they were taken to the beach at Santa Monica to test the reaction of the public.

It looks like Land Rover has produced another winner hot on the heels of the success of the Evoque.

The new Defender will not go on sale until 2015 and I expect it to be very similar to the DC100 - a shape that will be instantly recognisable to Land Rover lovers all over the world.

It will feature cutting-edge materials taken from the aerospace industries alongside the latest technology but it will still retain the Defender's flexibility and other key attributes that make the current vehicle such a favourite.

Some of the technology will feature in the next generation Range Rover so it will be well tested by the time the new Defender arrives.

Expect the Defender to have permanent four-wheel drive with an eight-speed transmission, intelligent stop/start and a transfer case.  It will also feature the next generation of the Terrain Response system which will automatically optimise the car's settings to cope with any environment.

It will also feature a driver-activated spiked tyre system which can be deployed at the touch of a button, a new Wade Aid system will utilise sonar sensors mounted in the bumpers and wing mirrors to measure water depth and keep drivers on course when crossing rivers and streams.

The new Defender will open the door to a wider leisure market and that is the reason for the DC100 Sport concept which takes its styling  cue from the early canvas-roofed Defenders with their fold-down windscreens that typify the brand's spirit of adventure and excitement.

It is difficult to replace an icon, especially when it is widely regarded as the world's most versatile vehicle. Its reputation has been earned and incredibly it is estimated that three-quarters of the two million vehicles made are still running and in every day use.  

A staggering statistic when you consider the conditions under which they operate.

Judging by the reception both concepts received in LA the Land Rover design team have got things right and that can only be good news for the British workforce.

Global Brand Director John Edwards said: "The Defender will remain true to its heritage. It has always been at the heart of the Land Rover brand and single-handedly defines our go-anywhere and can-do spirit.

"Our ambition is to create a new Defender for a global market that remains faithful to its original DNA. It will be tough, versatile, durable and capable."