All discussions relating to the Defenders end of production

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Originally Posted by MrLandy

Why is making money always the primary motivation? Surely there's more to life, culture, Land Rover, than that? ...to me, if the focus is on mainstream money making, it is more negative than anything else. To me a positive attitude towards new Defender is something out of the box that challenges presumptions, takes a risk and is all about character over profitability. Now that would be iconic. Creating great design is not about making money. It's about challenging the norm. ...nothing negative about that.

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Because if you're not making money your company doesn't exist??? Because as a publically listed company Tata must represent the interests of its shareholders.

I'm not saying money is the primary consideration in this car's design. I do think that the new car will be characterful and iconic, I just don't think that you will think so because realistically your ideal car can't exist today anymore.

Profitablility, popularity, quality, and iconism all go hand in hand, because if your car doesn't sell it will get cancelled and never reach icon status. Beetle, Kombi, Mini, Defender, Mustang, Land Cruiser, MX-5, WRX, Wrangler, etc all jumped to my mind as iconic cars and they all strike that balance. If you want icon status over all else, you're shooting the car in the foot so to speak.

A positive attitude towards the new Defender is trusting that JLR will create a car that will stand the test of time against consumer desires and reach iconism, profitability is a part of that.

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Originally Posted by Plutei

Because if you're not making money your company doesn't exist??? Because as a publically listed company Tata must represent the interests of its shareholders.

I'm not saying money is the primary consideration in this car's design. I do think that the new car will be characterful and iconic, I just don't think that you will think so because realistically your ideal car can't exist today anymore.

Profitablility, popularity, quality, and iconism all go hand in hand, because if your car doesn't sell it will get cancelled and never reach icon status. Beetle, Kombi, Mini, Defender, Mustang, Land Cruiser, MX-5, WRX, Wrangler, etc all jumped to my mind as iconic cars and they all strike that balance. If you want icon status over all else, you're shooting the car in the foot so to speak.

A positive attitude towards the new Defender is trusting that JLR will create a car that will stand the test of time against consumer desires and reach iconism, profitability is a part of that.

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Beautifully put, & Spot On.
Pickles.

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Originally Posted by cuppabillytea

And I thought the fun was over. :p

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No this is the refreshed and rested Mr Landy. 😁

rested? Nah tired, of the urban centric spin, the bling of adventure. ...guys the new Defender doesn't exist. The prototype was an embarrassment. Land Rover only make luxury SUV's now. There's nothing to be positive about re a new Defender except pure fantasy.

I love a good fantasy.

I have come across enough little titbits (not in the mainstream press) to be confident of two things:

1. The new Defender exists and will be a good thing.
2. Mr Landy won't like it.

:p

Cheers,
Jon

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Originally Posted by cuppabillytea

I love a good fantasy.

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Good for you! Me too ...mine is that Land Rover will design a Defender that's not about the mass market, where design is the priority, not secondary to mainstream market conformity like all other current model Land Rover vehicles. Shareholders as the motivator? There is no quicker way to destroy design cred.

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Originally Posted by jon3950

I have come across enough little titbits (not in the mainstream press) to be confident of two things:

1. The new Defender exists and will be a good thing.
2. Mr Landy won't like it.

:p

Cheers,
Jon

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Tell us what you've found Jon.... Luxury SUV dual cab ute?

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Originally Posted by MrLandy

There's nothing to be positive about re a new Defender except pure fantasy.

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You're right, from your point of view. As Pickles2 said, many have reason to be positive because everything the JLR family has produced (and I'm definitely including Jaguar here) has been absolutely golden in the relevant category. I think that something as simple as the announcement that they'll use the same stud pattern as the Hi-Lux is a huge positive; it shows dedication to function and aftermarket modifiability which are two pillars of the Defender.

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Originally Posted by MrLandy

The prototype was an embarrassment

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You might have missed this (I only caught it recently), but about a year after it came out LR said the response for the DC100 was super positive as a leisure vehicle, therefore while they originally billed it as what the Defender replacement "will look like" they had since suggested that it will more likely play a role in the Leisure branch (AKA, Disco/DS) and not the Utility branch (AKA Defender).

Source

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Originally Posted by MrLandy

Tell us what you've found Jon.... Luxury SUV dual cab ute?

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I can't tell you anything that is fact. The final form is a very closely guarded secret even within JLR.