Thread: All discussions relating to the Defenders end of production

Cheers Pickles. If only we were sitting around a campfire together right now!

Yup Land Rover certainly now have huge cred in projecting the image of escapeism for urban adventurers, I'm not disputing that. But it's not the type of cred I value in a vehicle and I don't see many positive signs, over the past ten years at least, of LR seriously valuing any market other than luxury urbanity.

Originally Posted by MrLandy

Cheers Pickles. If only we were sitting around a campfire together right now!

Yup Land Rover certainly now have huge cred in projecting the image of escapeism for urban adventurers, I'm not disputing that. But it's not the type of cred I value in a vehicle and I don't see many positive signs, over the past ten years at least, of LR seriously valuing any market other than luxury urbanity.

"Sitting Around A Campfire"?...agree!!, I'd be in that.
Regards, Pickles.

I think JLR are doing very well at expanding themselves from a niche manufacturer towards a major auto company.
Of course, that means change. There's no doubt of that.
For example, their largest sellers (Evoque, Disco Sport) are the vehicles the traditionalists sneer at the most. JLR is laughing all the way to the bank.
I can't see any reason why JLR can't build a great new Defender. They have all the bits already available to them, they just have to put them together in the best way for a durable work truck..

Yup you'd think so Mick wouldn't you. So why haven't they?

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

I think JLR are doing very well at expanding themselves from a niche manufacturer towards a major auto company.
Of course, that means change. There's no doubt of that.
For example, their largest sellers (Evoque, Disco Sport) are the vehicles the traditionalists sneer at the most. JLR is laughing all the way to the bank.
I can't see any reason why JLR can't build a great new Defender. They have all the bits already available to them, they just have to put them together in the best way for a durable work truck..

BUT,...it ain't as easy as that.
The landscape has changed totally sinse Rover designed & built the original "Land Rover" (copied by Toyota with Land "Cruiser" not long after), where it had NO competitiion....NONE.
There is so much competition, and much of it, (most of it?) in a relatively low price bracket, that maybe JLR does not want, or feels it does not even need, to compete with, in this environment.
"Sentimentality" doesn't count for much in business these days, where every post needs to be a winner,...so I say,...if JLR decide to divert from "traditionalism", & design a totally different Defender, well good luck to them, 'cause if I was a shareholder, that is exactly what I'd want them to do, rather than worry about what 15,000 people who "liked" the "original" Defender, in it's last years of production.
Pickles.

Originally Posted by Pickles2

rather than worry about what 15,000 people who "liked" the "original" Defender, in it's last years of production.

My mental worldwide survey returned millions of people liking the original defender, in principle.

You may have got your surveys mixed up... I think it's only 15,000 adults in the world that have never heard of the original land rover "defender". 😁

Originally Posted by manic

My mental worldwide survey returned millions of people liking the original defender, in principle.

You may have got your surveys mixed up... I think it's only 15,000 adults in the world that have never heard of the original land rover "defender". ��

"Millions" maybe, "liked" it, but more importantly, how many "BOUGHT' it?
Pickles.

Originally Posted by MrLandy

As I said above...Dimensions, shape, form, aluminium, driving position, 4 coils, 4 discs, clearance, live axles, flat floors, big chassis, sep transfer case, etc

You need to consider the regulatory environment that exists now compared to 1948. The problem with the current dimensions and shape is there is not enough room to provide the required level of occupant safety - just look at how thin the doors are and what can fit in there. They cannot keep the vertical front end as consideration now needs to be given to pedestrian impact.

I know you like the driving positon, but for most its an ergonomic nightmare. The command driving position is good, but it can be done a lot better now. It has to have more passenger space. I find it ridiculous driving a four door vehicle the size of a 110 and not being able to fit passengers in the rear seat. It was designed around post-war malnourished poms - we've moved on from there.

It would be nice if it kept the look of the current shape, but it needs to be a modern interpretation without being retro.

Interesting that coils and discs are part of its iconic nature but for most of its life it had leaf springs and drum brakes.

I also find it interesting that the Defender name is considered iconic when its a relatively recent creation done for marketing purposes.

I think what will be important in the new design will be the capability of the overall package, rather than the individual details used to achieve it.

Cheers,
Jon