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

All are running truck and dog local work, The Volvo is @480hp- 13sp syncro volvo box and the Merc is a 16speed semi auto Mercedes box@440hp. Both American trucks are running 18sp road Rangers @550 and 575hp. Your 100% correct in regard to truck and dog work.. It's so hard on equipment, due to the relatively short runs and stop start driving

well its new,,
and its a defender,,

I think I spotted a new Defender being road tested in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. It was in disguise of course, the Range Rover Sport badging, grille and bonnet vents fooled me for just a few moments...

Originally Posted by tact

I think I spotted a new Defender being road tested in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. It was I disguise of course, the Range Rover Sport badging, grille and bonnet vents fooled me for just a few moments...

Originally Posted by Beery

This is the modern equivalent from Protean Electric.

The specs are:
Peak output power @ 400 Vdc 75 kW 100 HP
Continuous output power @ 400 Vdc 54 kW 72 HP

Peak output torque 1000 Nm 735 lb-ft
Continuous output torque 650 Nm 516 lb-ft
Nominal input voltage range 200-400Vdc 200-400VdcWidth 115 mm 4.5 inDiameter 420 mm 16.5 inTotal motor mass 34 kg 68 lb

Not seeing any need for geared hubs based on these figures.

So. How many of the electric sceptics from 2015 are still holding their opinion?

The specs in my post above are several years old now, so the possibilities should be even greater now.

It's interesting to point out that in 2015 , Protean Electric formed a joint venture with Mahle Powertrain.
Who's Mahle Powertrain? They're a driveline component manufacturer and they work very closely with...you guessed it, Land Rover!

Reading between the lines here, but what other reason could cause such a huge delay in developing what should be a fairly simple utility vehicle other than they are working on something truly groundbreaking here?

Surely if was just a bastardised version of a D4 or D5 powertrain and chassis they could have had it slapped together and earning squillions long ago. Wouldn't a profit obsessed company do that if it could?

If they want to flog their "midget-on-cocaine" ingenium engine, it would be great for running a generator or alternator in a diesel electric setup. But a pure battery system would be better than compromising with a heavy, clumsy hybrid system.

Honestly, I'm of the opinion now that 'small' diesel engines are so smothered in emissions control crap, so undersized, overstressed, short lived and so prone to expensive failures (warranty claims) that I would say "why bother?".

I do think I read somewhere LR saying there would be a hybrid version of all its vehicles in the future, so you may be right.

Originally Posted by Beery

So. How many of the electric sceptics from 2015 are still holding their opinion?

The specs in my post above are several years old now, so the possibilities should be even greater now.

It's interesting to point out that in 2015 , Protean Electric formed a joint venture with Mahle Powertrain.
Who's Mahle Powertrain? They're a driveline component manufacturer and they work very closely with...you guessed it, Land Rover!

Reading between the lines here, but what other reason could cause such a huge delay in developing what should be a fairly simple utility vehicle other than they are working on something truly groundbreaking here?

Surely if was just a bastardised version of a D4 or D5 powertrain and chassis they could have had it slapped together and earning squillions long ago. Wouldn't a profit obsessed company do that if it could?

If they want to flog their "midget-on-cocaine" ingenium engine, it would be great for running a generator or alternator in a diesel electric setup. But a pure battery system would be better than compromising with a heavy, clumsy hybrid system.

Honestly, I'm of the opinion now that 'small' diesel engines are so smothered in emissions control crap, so undersized, overstressed, short lived and so prone to expensive failures (warranty claims) that I would say "why bother?".

I'd say the delay is that the profit makers go to the front of the queue, Range Rover, RRS, Discovery Sport, Velar, D5, probable an updated Evoke next maybe another new soft road model.. then there might be time to squeeze a Defender in before the range needs a refresh. The Defender is a heritage model not a hero model IMO so there is no rush for a new one.

As for electric... As fun as hub motors and full torque from zero RPM is, there will always be the energy storage issue. If I cant drive 500km in one go then drive another 500 after a 30min refuel/recharge/rewhatever stop then forget it.
Range extenders aren't the answer either. Any efficiency gains by running an ICE at a set RPM to a generator are outweighed by the extra hardware needed for the setup.

Electric cars will replace city runabouts but I think they will develop synthetic carbon neutral fuels that fit existing infrastructure before their adoption even reaches 20%.

There will always be need for energy dense fuels for long haul trucks, ships, plant equipment and heavy industry so something will always be available for cars.

I think I went off on a bit of a tangent there but I think the Defender is definitely not going to be a ground breaking vehicle. Personally I just hope it is more of a reasonably priced G Wagen type of thing rather than re-dressed model like the FJ cruiser was.

Every Jaguar Land Rover Model Will Be Electrified From 2020