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

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Originally Posted by rar110

I remember talking to Mal Story, a long time ago when he was in business. He reckoned the Defender was weak rubbish and they should have kept building 110s and maybe early range rovers with sensible aftermarket upgrades to the drive train. I'm sure I've read that dedicated series owners thought the 110s were posh rubbish with carpet and cloth seats. Lots of people will hate a new Defender with auto, real aircon, terrain response etc.

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"Lots of people will hate"......, but I'd suggest, and this is what JLR will be thinking, "a lot more people will like",....and that is the secret, JLR have to produce vehicles that will sell (Defender was not), & make some dollars, and I reckon they've been doing a pretty good job of that lately,....better than most actually.
Pickles.

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Originally Posted by Pickles2

"Lots of people will hate"......, but I'd suggest, and this is what JLR will be thinking, "a lot more people will like",....and that is the secret, JLR have to produce vehicles that will sell (Defender was not), & make some dollars, and I reckon they've been doing a pretty good job of that lately,....better than most actually. Pickles.

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Yes, I think so. A lot more.

I think JLR might worry that some proportion of buyers might be former hard driving Disco customers. So it might be speced LIKE a D4 S with TR and round xenon lights as an expensive option. A Defender speced up to an entry level D5 will probably cost more than a D5.

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Originally Posted by Tombie

MrLandy - for all your posts will you answer one question...

If the LR Defender continued in its current MY16 guise would you be looking to buy another in the next 5 years? (Assume your current vehicles don't have any issues etc)

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Most likely not Tombie. Mainly because I can't afford to upgrade every five years. Maybe every 15 or so. ...How about you?

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Originally Posted by Tombie

Sorry for using modern technology to post these threads - Couldn't find the old 2400 modem to dial into a BBS and my Punch card system is long relegated to the land fill... [emoji48]

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I love new technology, when it's good, not invasive, secure and straightforward. I'm not into techno bling. Glad to be online.

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Originally Posted by Andrew86

I'm sure electric vehicles are on their roadmap, but I think 2020 is too soon for it to be in a volume seller like the Defender is intended to be. I wouldn't be surprised if we see some sort of electric-hybrid technology appearing in the Range Rover fleet in that time frame though.

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There already is a diesel hybrid RRS! It's a given there'll be more hybrids and if a hybrid gets me 1200 kms from a tank I'm not at all worried!


Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

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Originally Posted by Pickles2

Mr Landy. If you care to read a bit of Landrover history, you will note that pretty much continually during British Leyland, BMW, Ford ownership, there has been talk of "this should've / could've" been done to Defender, which during all this time has been suffering continually decreasing sales, because of vastly increasing numbers of competition, and the fact that the Defender's BASIC CONFIGURATION made it impossible to viably modify, to "keep up" with the opposition,....even if they fitted airbags, made it emission compliant etc etc etc, the basic configuration was & is "over the hill"....it's "old school" stuff,...which is why production has ended & a "New" Defender is coming, which I say we will know something about by 2018.

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Thanks Pickles, you have actually perfectly illustrated my point. I'm not arguing that Defender shouldn't change. I'm arguing that it should have changed much earlier in order to stay out in front.

In contemporary time, I'm arguing that JLR designers should have the capability to remodel Defender, using all available technologies, while maintaining its iconic form, dimensions and capability. I'm arguing that any new Defender design had better be up to spec and I'm trying to make it very clear that I think (contrary to what most of you guys think) this is unlikely given JLR's current trajectory. I'm very happy to agree to disagree. We will see who's right in 2020 or so! ....Or never :p

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Originally Posted by MrLandy

Most likely not Tombie. Mainly because I can't afford to upgrade every five years. Maybe every 15 or so. ...How about you?

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I'm on track to consider whatever comes out circa 2018.

To sway me over it will want the comforts of the D4....

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Originally Posted by Tombie

I'm on track to consider whatever comes out circa 2018.

To sway me over it will want the comforts of the D4....

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Don't worry Tombie, if it materialises it will essentially be a D4 with a Defender badge, no question. This was confirmed in my mind when I saw the pics of the D5 zebra on the race track!

Which means I'll either never replace my 2014 Defender, or will have to choose something else because a D4 doesn't meet my requirements.

Cheers

But MrLandy - it's dimensions are absolutely Poor!!!!! It's like the Anti-Tardis [emoji12] from outside they look huge, inside they're rather snug (even for smaller framed individuals).

Tight inside, offset driving position etc.
Limited leg room for second row.
And a back door design which is Iconic as it is impractical!

Even Icelandic versions are cut and shut wider in the body/chassis by 12" and then track widened again...

You have your preference for the current shape and I fully understand why - they're great fun... Whatever comes out of LR next will be suited to the needs of the world market, LR are demonstrating that admirably in the last decade or so.

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Originally Posted by Stuart02

There already is a diesel hybrid RRS! It's a given there'll be more hybrids and if a hybrid gets me 1200 kms from a tank I'm not at all worried!


Sent from my SM-G900I using AULRO mobile app

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Yup, for $150K and there's no way I'd take it out bush on a regular basis.

A totally redesigned Defender, keeping its iconic form, exterior dimensions and heavy duty practicality, with hybrid diesel, base model for circa $60K ...now we're talking. But it won't happen IMO.