2016 'Defender'

My cup holders are heavily coated in condensed black coffee. I wonder if the new Defender will have shock absorbers in the cup holders.

so what part of England is Slovakia in ?

Slovakia make components of the Magna Steyr transfer box in all 6 speed D3/4 & L322s. So I can see this being a possibility.

What are everyone's thoughts on the viability or likelihood of portal axles in the new defender? Has land rover ever toyed with the idea before?

They have "toyed" with the idea, I think - didn't the Forest Rover have portal axles? But seriously, for a mass production vehicle? I don't think there is the slightest possibility.

John

Yep, not a chance of portals!

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Originally Posted by Loubrey

Just a photo-shop glitch or something more sinister... :D

Cheers,

Lou

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Its a Defender body on a unimog chassis!!!

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Originally Posted by Dervish

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...016/05/208.jpg

This is one of many over the bonnet crossings we faced up at the Cape. After this, we drove the 3,500km home - that brought the vehicle's total just past 450,000km - took the gear out and I drove it to work the next day.

The thought of taking a vehicle with so many sensors and ecus up to the Cape would put me off entirely. Limping home the ~1000km from this crossing to the nearest dealer in Cairns would be a terrible experience. I personally am very reluctant to buy any overlanding vehicle with more electronics than the old faithful 300tdi, and I'm an electrical engineer.

Unfortunately that is why the new Defender doesn't interest me at all. At best, it's only fault will be a tiny, overstressed turbo-diesel covered in sensors and ECUs thanks to European emissions laws; but that alone is enough to put me off.

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Looks like the unnamed crossing just before Nolans Brook - I've got a similar photo of my Puma going through that one too. Didn't get stuck in Nolans like that other fella in the White Puma though (think that disappointed the crowd a bit. For what it's worth my Pumas been filled up to the half way line on the front seat backs and just kept on trucking no dramas.

The modern vehicles just need a few additional bush mechanicing skills and know how (and I'm an (ex) electrical fitter mechanic). Agree there a lot to be said for the simple older rigs though - but again, you ain't gunna fix one of them without some skills either?

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Originally Posted by n plus one

Looks like the unnamed crossing just before Nolans Brook - I've got a similar photo of my Puma going through that one too. Didn't get stuck in Nolans like that other fella in the White Puma though (think that disappointed the crowd a bit. For what it's worth my Pumas been filled up to the half way line on the front seat backs and just kept on trucking no dramas.

The modern vehicles just need a few additional bush mechanicing skills and know how (and I'm an (ex) electrical fitter mechanic). Agree there a lot to be said for the simple older rigs though - but again, you ain't gunna fix one of them without some skills either?

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Interesting discussion...what would you say are the 5 most important mechanical/electrical skills/preparations/differences between taking a TDI and a Puma to the Cape?

None.Mine between them have done 90% of Oz show room stock,the only real problem I've had with both was tyres,Coopers on the Tdi and MTR's on the TDCi. Outback reliability has little to do with the type of vehicle and more to do with lowering weight,driving to the conditions and using common sense,they are also in my experience the things 90% of travelers get wrong. Pat