Thread: The "New" Defender, ...Your Thoughts?

Originally Posted by MrLandy

Land Rover drivers' sexuality has nothing to do with anything in this discussion. I'm not discussing drivers. I'm discussing vehicles and the likely outcomes of Land Rover's shift in focus towards luxury and urban centric designs, the end of Defender and what a new Defender might or might not be.

Been here over and over,you carry on as if the new Defender will be rubbish because it'll have stuff in it like effective A/C,cabin space,leg room,insulation,a radio you can hear,stuff that all the competition has and has had for years. If Land Rover doesn't make the new Defender meet all the requirements we will never be able to buy a new one,or we go the Toyota route with the LC and make a vehicle everyone wants but can't afford. Pat

Where do you guys get off on speaking for someone else as the basis for your argument? Attempting to put words in some else's mouth just sounds silly and a bit desperate. You're very welcome to disagree, but stick to your own points rather than misrepresenting mine.

Originally Posted by sheerluck

Nope, no mistake here Paul.

There was a reason for the post, and I shall elaborate.

MrLandy is cutting up rough about how the Defender is a perfect 4wd, the likes of which will never be seen again. It is a pure and unadulterated, the pinnacle of 60 years of non-development, and Land Rover have lost the plot in not creating an updated version, but nothing could ever come close to the original anyway. *pauses for breath*

His point is that if the "new" Defender (if it happens) is based on another vehicle in the Land Rover range, rather than a ground up redesign, then it won't be a Defender in his eyes.

However, how many parts in the Defender are truly Defender parts, and haven't originated in other Land Rover vehicles or other brands?

The engine and gearbox came from a Ford Transit, 5 years before it was used in the Puma. The transfer box was originally used in the Range Rover, and later used in the Defender. (I think, someone may correct me on that one)
The diffs came from a P38. The switches came from a Austin Metro (or Marina?). Some of the interior panels are from a Transit. The instrument panel came from the D3.

So that leaves the seats and steel metal I reckon.

So it's already "based" on something else.

Yes i knew,just taking the p... out

True,if you look at the 2.4 engine it has Ford stamped on it somewhere,and other parts have ford on them as well.

What MR Landy has been saying over many posts is true,i recon it is the end of an icon as well.
A shame,but these are the things that have to happen in our ever-changing world,for numerous different reasons.

And as for the general public,as buyers of these vehicles,whether new or second hand,enthusiasts,collectors,or whatever,they have no say in what goes on.

It is all about manufacturers getting a share of the market,and making the $$,complying with safety and emission regs,etc.

For that matter,most of the D4 parts have ford stickers on them as well.

Pat, ships, trains and aeroplanes basically use constant engine speeds and are made to be most efficient in their cruise modes.

and as you said , cars haven't really evolved as an efficient mode of transport, but I think that's our fault. We want cars to be multirole but that may have to change very soon.

I agree it's the end of an icon, but that is different to saying that nothing could possibly replace it.

Rubbishing a potential new design, just because it might possibly, perhaps, could happen to include some design features tried and tested on another model is not quite right in my eyes, particularly when it already happens!

I have full confidence the new Defender will be an awesome vehicle but whether I want one will be another matter. I reckon by the time I'm in the market for a 'new Defender' they'll be as old as the Disco currently is so it will have already created its own legend.

Reckon you guys need to read a few more of my posts over the past two years. I'm all for a new Defender, just not a D4 pretending to be one, or a 'nostalgia' vehicle. Land Rover have neglected Defender re-design for at least a decade and have now departed the heavy duty 4x4 sector. If they were serious about Defender there would be a new model already.

Originally Posted by MrLandy

Reckon you guys need to read a few more of my posts over the past two years. I'm all for a new Defender, just not a D4 pretending to be one, or a 'nostalgia' vehicle. Land Rover have neglected Defender re-design for at least a decade and have now departed the heavy duty 4x4 sector. If they were serious about Defender there would be a new model already.

They've had NO money, were setting up for success first..
Were under EU pressure to meet Crash and Emissions they were struggling to get to.

Must be nice to live in the land of rainbows and unicorns..

Where you speak "matter of fact" about "neglected" yet there are multiple instances of concepts way beyond the latest going back 10-15 years ago - suggest you go on a search....


I'd also suggest a D4 platform is a heavier duty platform than the outgoing Defender chassis by a significant margin...

A T5 platform without the burden of the 7 seat configuration & using the armoured suspension parts would likely be good for a 1-1.5t payload vehicle.

After all a Defender chassis is essentially the bastard child of a Rangie with some Series mounts welded on!!!

Known for cracking Spring mounts, steering box mounts, rear cross members, and more frequently in recent years - 130s getting a broken backbone...