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There's an Aussie guy on the English Defender Forum who has just stated that he has had it confirmed by two Perth LR Dealers that there will be no new Defenders sold in Aus after the end of 2014, because the category vehicle in which Defender is included will have to have airbags as from Jan 2015?
So, no new Aussie Defenders in 2015?...First I've heard of it, anybody know anything?
Pickles.
Hmm Having been in and out of LR dealers a lot over the last few months in Sydney, not one sales person mentioned it...
I would have thought it was an ideal selling point :)
In related news: have a look at what ANCAP now wants for a car to be deemed safe - all I see when I read most (but not all) of the "SAT" (safety assist technology) list is expensive distractions! :mad:
http://www.ancap.com.au/admin/upload...oadMap2017.pdf
Sad but it wouldn't surprise me. USA have been in that pot for years. Safety has played on my mind from time to time.
All I can honestly hope for is that the spare parts keep flowing and that the Defender replacement captures all that was good about the old vehicles in a new, standards-complient design. Landrover's head of design has stated in more recent interviews that the DC100 concept was very unlike what the final defender replacement will be so there may be hope yet. The only solid fact i've read is that the Jaguar V8 in the DC100 concept is not going to make it into production. Supposedly they just used that donk to impress Clarkson.
It's due in 2015. We'll have to wait and see.
2015?...I don't think so.
I reckon it'll be 2017, before we see a new Defender. But this is not the point of my question,...No Defenders in Aus after 2014?...I haven't heard that one.
Pickles.
The Defender will probably fail on the roof crush strength test so we shouldn't worry about the lack of airbags.
I reckon what they got that date from this Regulation Impact Statement from 2013: http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/F20...a-9383851c13d9
ADR 31 v 05 seems to indicate the drop dead date for NA class vehicles currently in production is 1 November 2017, at which point they needQuote:
In line with this, the proposed implementation timetable for ESC is 2015 for new models and 2016 for all models. However, the final timing may be subject to further negotiations with industry.
both Electronic Stability Control system and a Brake Assist System to get a compliance plate (as a new car).
So the by this rule alone, no new Defenders would be allowed in to the country unless Land Rover built in ESC.
Then again there might be other rules around (airbags, rollover, etc?) that have an earlier date, and LR themselves have called end 2015 as the last production date so 2017 may be a moot point...
The ADR is here if you are bored ;) Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 35/05
I was told the same thing that December is the last month build dates are allocated to Australian dealers. That was from Northern Beaches LR in Sydney.
Damn, might have to get my order in for one by the end of the year. I was maybe waiting until this time next year.....What sort of wait time is there for a brand new one?
Or...maybe not buy one at all? Whats the difference in the 2014 models anyways, if anything?
I'm still not convinced on this one, but, as they say in the Legal Profession, I shall seek "fuller & further particulars".
There's already some discrepancies in these statements, one says no orders after Oct, another says Dec, but with both those dates, a customer ordered vehicle wouldn't get here by 31/12 anyway, so if the air bag "rule" is going to be enforced, they wouldn't be able to be registered?
Pickles.
Like I said, I'm still not convinced about this 2014 "Deadline".Quote:
Originally Posted by specwarop
There's no major differences for 2014, the ones I know are, Defender on bonnet instead of Land Rover, wheel center badges a different colour, different ignition key, variation in the way different paint colours are ordered. So, from what I know, virtually nothing.
I'm not sure whether premium seats are available.....again?
As far as the "deadline" is concerned, speak to your Dealer, & let us know what He says?
Cheers, Pickles.