Originally Posted by
Andrew86
I understand where you're coming from with your cynicism MrLandy, but you're looking at it the wrong way. The Defender suffered from under investment for so long because of the profitability woes of JLR more broadly in the past. The company today is totally different.
Those luxo-barges that you so despise are JLR's biggest source of profit and have been a priority in recent years for that reason. They've filled the coffers and kept shareholders happy. With that solid base now well established, and with a wealthy Indian parent company, there's investment capital available to get the lower profit/higher volume cars right (i.e. Defender).
Look at Porsche. Purists cursed the day the Cayenne was released but the reality is that it has become their highest selling, highest profit vehicle. With those profits, they have been able to increase investment in their core 911 vehicles. Meeting the demands of the market doesn't dilute a brand, it gives it room to grow.
The new Defender isn't going to be a purpose built 'work vehicle'. Whatever that is? Few people can afford to have garages with 3 or 4 single purpose vehicles to fulfill different roles. Modern cars are capable of performing multiple roles very well, and I think the new Defender will do just that.