Thread: 2016 'Defender'

Sounds great, but even my mates at the JLR R&D center and test track in Coventry (UK) know nothing about Project Icon. Apparently its frowned upon to even ask questions about it...

Maybe some true "inside" info, but these guys in Coventry new about the Discovery Sport some years ago, long before the suggested conception date.

While they won't tell me anything (they like their jobs too much), I have to believe they would at least tell me that they like the new car or not. At this stage they know nothing...

Project Icon is like the US military's "Skunk Works" from the 50's and 60's. JLR is keeping it so secret that in-house speculation is that its going to be so massive a leap forward that it aimed to not only knock the competition off its perch, but to land so far ahead of them that it will take years, if ever to catch up again.

Cheers,

Lou

As the saying goes, "I know nothing"!
But I wish I did, Pickles.

As a general rule (guideline), vehicles coming out "next year" are in development around 5-7 years earlier...

Originally Posted by MrLandy

Hey pete110 that's some pretty big revelations! Hope your source is true! V8 diesel sounds nice, but unaffordable... Let's hope it truly is commercial, because everything else other than landcruiser that claims to be commercial simply isn't. They're all family cars/dual cabs. Also jury is out for me on monocoque chassis for commercial vehicle. It would need to be heavier duty than disco. ...what a massive opportunity for Land Rover to take the lead over Toyota! With landcruiser being slowly phased out too.... How goid is your source Pete? ...Very intriguing. ...so who is going to wait now and not chase a 2015 defender??

Won't be a V8,my guess will be a range of engines to suit different markets,monocoque is a big leap over separate chassis/body,much stronger/rigid with less wieght,the reason aircraft/F1 cars etc use them.The new Defender will be a world beater IMHO,Land Rover are not restrained by using old bodies like the present model,it's based on the T5 floor pan which is as modern as you can get and you don't hear D4 owners whinging about it regarding cabin space or layout,off road ability or on road performance,the only people that whinge are the same people who whinge about P38 diff's or 19'' rims,it wouldn't matter what Land Rover did they would still find something to bitch about,I personally can't wait.. Pat

Originally Posted by PAT303

Won't be a V8,my guess will be a range of engines to suit different markets,monocoque is a big leap over separate chassis/body,much stronger/rigid with less wieght,the reason aircraft/F1 cars etc use them.The new Defender will be a world beater IMHO,Land Rover are not restrained by using old bodies like the present model,it's based on the T5 floor pan which is as modern as you can get and you don't hear D4 owners whinging about it regarding cabin space or layout,off road ability or on road performance,the only people that whinge are the same people who whinge about P38 diff's or 19'' rims,it wouldn't matter what Land Rover did they would still find something to bitch about,I personally can't wait.. Pat

Agree, no chance of a V8,modern diesels are getting smaller,not bigger.
A modern high tech V8 would also be way to expensive.

The tojo V8 is relatively low tech,10 to 15yrs behind LR's current crop of diesels.

There would be reason to winge if it was shod with 19's?

Lets hope a base model family wagon is slotted in somewhere in the line up as well.

A simple 5 seater,like the Telecom specials with the 2.7 TDV6 up to a spec like the current limited edition models with the 3.0ltre in both manual and auto starting around $50,000 and up to $70,000 with all the fruit with 1,000kg load and 3500kg tow rating would be an over night sales success,it would force Toyota's hand regarding both the 200 and Prado. Pat

Whats Toyota market penetration compared to defender overseas?

Wouldn't the base/commercial model disco already fill the role of the new defender? (Not talking utes)

Originally Posted by pibby

Whats Toyota market penetration compared to defender overseas?

ISIL seem to like them...