Defender mule?

[LRT]

Pictures of this have been doing the rounds recently.

Land Rover Defender prototype spy shots - Autoblog (https://www.autoblog.com/2017/12/01/land-rover-defender-swb-spy-shots/)

[rangieman]

No Way !:no2:

[Fifth Columnist]

UK Gov Website......
VK67 EWX

✓ Taxed
Tax due:
01 October 2018

Vehicle make: LAND ROVER
Date of first registration: October 2017
Year of manufacture: 2017
Cylinder capacity (cc): Not available
CO₂Emissions: 0 g/km
Fuel type: Not available
Export marker: No
Vehicle status: Tax not due
Vehicle colour: WHITE
Vehicle type approval: Not available
Wheelplan: 2-AXLE-RIGID BODY
Revenue weight: Not available
Tax rates:

The vehicle tax rates are only available if you have the latest 11 digit reference number from the V5C registration certificate (logbook)

[goingbush]

"one thing for sure the purists wont like it "
Im no purist and I hate it . Strike LandRover off my shopping list

Looking like a JL Jeep for me !!

(but still looking forward to seeing what Ineos comes up with as an answer to Defender)

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Ok,, you all know what the word MULE means here,, right?
its not a real car.
its a testing platform.
The websites are spruiking it as the new defender ONLY because this mule(body) was last used for the D5,, so its been parked up for some time
the question is--why bring it back out with such a strange wheelbase??
hence, Defender.

[Toxic_Avenger]

What in tarnation is happening with the rear door? Particulary the jagged body-line running thru it?

My guess is it's a test rig for some drivetrain components in a poorly modified body.

[loanrangie]

What in tarnation is happening with the rear door? Particulary the jagged body-line running thru it?

My guess is it's a test rig for some drivetrain components in a poorly modified body.
That's what a test mule is.

[Fifth Columnist]

No chassis?
No adaptability?

[Toxic_Avenger]

That's what a test mule is.
I understand the concept of a mule. I just thought it'd be a bit better executed.
But still a good time to remind people what it is, so they they don't go off half-cocked due to the latest press leak saying they'll never buy another LR product again.

[shanegtr]

At least a couple of the photos seem to imply a decent offroad friendly rim size being used

[goingbush]

Mule Schmule , the platform is not hard core 4x4 , more a Pretender than a Defender , these things will last no time at all with the sort of punishment that the Defender was able to cope with. .

[pommy]

At least we are getting closer to a reveal , just hope it looks different to all there other cars PLEASE

[manic]

Looks like 16 inch rims might be staying. Indi suspension with coil option. Im wondering if there is a rolling chassis under there for body swaps - hope so!

[Tins]

I understand the concept of a mule. I just thought it'd be a bit better executed.
But still a good time to remind people what it is, so they they don't go off half-cocked due to the latest press leak saying they'll never buy another LR product again.

Photos have been doctored. The rear door would be useless and the reverse stepped roofline is idiotic. Take a look at the very last photo to see the real thing.

[Chops]

Photos have been doctored. The rear door would be useless and the reverse stepped roofline is idiotic. Take a look at the very last photo to see the real thing.


These are two different cars,, the wheels are different on each. Perhaps a long and short wheelbase versions (?)

[cripesamighty]

From memory one of the test mules for the Freelander 1 prototype was a small van. Everything under the disguised body was all Freelander though to get real world driving data out of it without drawing any attention to a brand new vehicle. As everyone has mentioned, the giveaway here is the wheelbase so it's almost certainly a Defender 90 doing some real world testing with whatever body they had lying around cut to fit and slapped on top. There are other photo's around of what is assumed to be the test mule for the Defender 110. I wouldn't be taking too much notice of the bodywork.

[Zeros]

Intriguing....hard to tell if the images have been doctored. It could be two x wheel base mules... testing the drivelines under those fake skins. The bodies certainly don't look to fit the chassis.

[V8Ian]

Photos have been doctored. The rear door would be useless and the reverse stepped roofline is idiotic. Take a look at the very last photo to see the real thing.
The one with a dead dog, in shot?

[ramblingboy42]

thats an old photo....
can anyone confirm that it is a JLR release? huh? can't hear much.......as usual.

[cripesamighty]

If you compare the last two photos you will see they are two different cars. Dazzle camouflage paint on each is different and the LWB version has trim under the doors amongst other things. Have attached higher res photos below. If these are test mules, the wheel base fits for a Defender, but we'll wait and see what comes down the pike.

https://s.blogcdn.com/slideshows/images/slides/716/994/5/S7169945/slug/l/lrdefender-m13-kgp-ed-copy-1.jpg

https://s.blogcdn.com/slideshows/images/slides/716/994/5/S7169945/slug/l/lrdefender-m13-kgp-ed-copy-1.jpg

[DiscoMick]

I assume it will be an aluminum chassis with independent suspension. Styling is hard to predict, except for the corporate nose.

[Tins]

These are two different cars,, the wheels are different on each. Perhaps a long and short wheelbase versions (?)

Yeah, you're right. The sills are different as well.

[Chops]

Mule Schmule , the platform is not hard core 4x4 , more a Pretender than a Defender , these things will last no time at all with the sort of punishment that the Defender was able to cope with. .


I'm not sure I really know what "hard core" is anymore, but anyway, have you seen the testing of the D3 when it came out? Independent suspension can take an absolute pounding +,, in the long term, I'm not sure how it will wear, and quite possibly, it'll be much more expensive to repair, but from personal experience, I don't believe it'll be any kind of pretender.

[rammypluge]

Land Rover says new Defender will polarise opinion (http://www.caradvice.com.au/605934/land-rover-says-new-defender-will-polarise-opinion/)

[Zeros]

Land Rover says new Defender will polarise opinion (http://www.caradvice.com.au/605934/land-rover-says-new-defender-will-polarise-opinion/)

More of the same then! 👍🙃 sounds promising.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I assume it will be an aluminum chassis with independent suspension. Styling is hard to predict, except for the corporate nose.
Agree Mick,, I also think it will have an 8 (or 9!) speed auto with no low range,, but the first 3 gears will be crawlers,,
LR did mention this remember--

[SBD4]

Agree Mick,, I also think it will have an 8 (or 9!) speed auto with no low range,, but the first 3 gears will be crawlers,,
LR did mention this remember--
IMHO I think it'll have a transfer case.

If it were not to have one and it were to have ultra low gearing in the 1st 3 gears then that would leave only 5 or 6 usable for on road driving. Also, this would bring a lot more stress into the transmission. Along with that you would not have a low range reverse gear which would be a huge mistake to make. If they were to eliminate the transfer case I think they would need to incorporate a low range gear in the transmission itself to maintain the same utility of a traditional transfer case.

Who knows? we'll soon see.

[weeds]

Fingers cross Daniel can fit a Mulgo Pop to it.....everything else doesn’t matter

[Pickles2]

I don't believe that is the new Defender. As usual, and how long has this been going on for, NO-ONE knows anything about it, except for the JLR design team,...no-one "outside" has a clue.
Pickles.

[weeds]

I don't believe that is the new Defender. As usual, and how long has this been going on for, NO-ONE knows anything about it, except for the JLR design team,...no-one "outside" has a clue.
Pickles.

I don’t think they are sayin it’s the defender but more so testing driveline components.

I agree with you....JLR are doing a good job at stopping leaks.

[scarry]

The ZF 9 speed auto only suits engines with east west configuration.

So that is out.

It must,and will have low range,without it,it loses a lot of capability.

[Fifth Columnist]

But will it have a chassis? I doubt it.
A monocoque vehicle will take away the essential Land Rover versatility.

[PAT303]

Sounds like the skies falling down again. Pat

[donh54]

I guess they will make something we either like or we don't like.
Some will laud it as a wonderful advance in off road motoring, whilst others will tear out their hair, and wear sack-cloth and ashes forever more.
Think back to the day when the Disco 3 was unveiled.

[Zeros]

Fingers cross Daniel can fit a Mulgo Pop to it.....everything else doesn’t matter
:Rolling::Rolling:[thumbsupbig]

[Zeros]

Sounds like the skies falling down again. Pat

Dont worry Pat, it will have a 3D camera / projector setup so the sky can be projected inside on the ceiling of the next Defender, or look as if you're seeing through the roof ...a virtual sky of your choosing so you don't need to leave the vehicle to see the stars.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

...a virtual sky of your choosing so you don't need to leave the vehicle to see the stars.

Too late!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/12/122.jpg

[PAT303]

Dont worry Pat, it will have a 3D camera / projector setup so the sky can be projected inside on the ceiling of the next Defender, or look as if you're seeing through the roof ...a virtual sky of your choosing so you don't need to leave the vehicle to see the stars.

I just love the way the knockers jump on every opportunity to bash LR,it's a mule,it has nothing to do with the real thing. Pat

[Pedro_The_Swift]

and its still only speculation its a defender mule,,
could be a mid term update Evoque mule-- [bigrolf]

[rick130]

Too late!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/12/122.jpgOMG!

[V8Ian]

and its still only speculation its a defender mule,,
could be a mid term update Evoque mule-- [bigrolf]
Or a Jaguar cross over.

[Zeros]

I just love the way the knockers jump on every opportunity to bash LR,it's a mule,it has nothing to do with the real thing. Pat

I reckon there's a fair bit of light-hearted, good-natured Aussie ****-taking going on too. [thumbsupbig]

[Zeros]

Too late!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/12/122.jpg


Ha! 👍 ...Who needs to see a real desert sky when you've got a Rolls!

[scarry]

Sounds like the skies falling down again. Pat

Its already fallen down,the solid axles are long gone....[bighmmm]

[bob10]

2019 Land Rover Defender spied (https://www.msn.com/en-au/motoring/news/2019-land-rover-defender-spied/ar-BBGeIO4?li=AA8ewQ&ocid=spartandhp)

[bob10]

Some photos.

End of the road: a look back at the Land Rover Defender (https://www.msn.com/en-au/motoring/news/end-of-the-road-a-look-back-at-the-land-rover-defender/ss-AAdvrNY?li=AA8ewQ&ocid=spartandhp&parent-title=2019-land-rover-defender-spied&parent-ns=ar&parent-content-id=BBGeIO4&fullscreen=true#image=12)

[LRT]

I doubt the body is the actual Defender but just a 'mule' like what Land Rover did with the Freelander 1.

The Dunsfold Collection :: The Dunsfold Collection (http://www.dunsfoldcollection.co.uk/collection/freelander/mule-prototype-cb40-brake-test-hack)

[jethro]

[QUOTE=LRT;2747838]Pictures of this have been doing the rounds recently.My order is in 😉😉😉. ???????????

[url=https://www.autoblog.com/2017/12/01/land-rover-defender-swb-spy-shots/]Land Rover Defender prototype spy shots - Autobloghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/12/169.jpghttps://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/12/170.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/mobile-gallery/ec51258d3d65ae345dc219082eafae1a.jpg

[LRT]

There's also the SD5:

In-house designs : Rover SD5 - AROnline (http://www.aronline.co.uk/concepts/concepts-and-prototypes/in-house-designs-rover-sd5/)

[VladTepes]

The photos are meaningless but the crux of the matter isthis -

chief creative officer Gerry McGovern told an Australian publication that the new Defender, which is definitely coming, would be "polarizing" and that Defender die-hards might not get the visual link to the past they're hoping for.

Which means it won't be boxy and practical...

BUT I'll be happy as long as they somehow avoid the uselessly impractical 'squashed rear roofline" look that plagues other current models....

Oh and based on the other main LR trend I think we can assume it will be SUBSTANTIALLY more expensive than the previous model Deefer. I can imagine around $80K... and possibly with no ute version.

Time will tell.

I love my Tdi 130 [thumbsupbig]

[LRT]

Yes VladTepes,

I'm more than happy with a 'real' Defender and probably won't buy the new one anyway!

New Land Rover Defender coming in 2020 | 4X4 Australia (https://www.4x4australia.com.au/news/1707/new-land-rover-defender-coming-in-2020)

[Zeros]

I'd be very surprised if there is no ute version, given Gerry's earlier comments about competing with Hilux. But you might be right because... they've priced themselves out of the work ute market? Possibly.

If it's not boxy and practical it's not a Defender in my book. But then the Disco used to be boxy.

It's all impossible to know looking at those supposed mule pics.

We are still none the wiser.

[LRT]

I also think it'll be priced out of the average tradies market.

Probably to compete with the Mercedes Benz X Class thats based on the Nissan Navara

Tested: the Mercedes-Benz of utes, the new X-Class (http://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/tested-the-mercedesbenz-of-utes-the-new-xclass/news-story/8c00e9f9c0d1b05b5452b59f8d7c9685)

The Navara didn't get a favourable report from 4x4 Aus either...
2017 Nissan Navara II Payload review | 4X4 Australia (https://www.4x4australia.com.au/reviews/road-tests/1710/2017-nissan-navara-ii-payload-review)

"Navara still feels well short of the stability and neutral attitude of most competitor utes when carrying 800kg in the tray."

Last year our local Nissan dealer put flyers on all the utes at the Warrnambool sale yards but they didn't put a flyer under the windscreen wiper of our Defender 130. I wonder why? [bigrolf][biggrin][bigwhistle]

[rar110]

Release in 2020? That will be a 5 year gap in production. I suppose many of the last defenders sold here were plated 2016.

I thought release was planned in 2017 or 2018?

[nick_e]

Hilux SR5, Navara ST-X aren't exactly cheap at around 60k. Ford Ranger Wildtrak are pushing 70k. Amarok Ultimate is 80k.

They may be looking to enter the market around this price point if they developing a dual cab. Doubt it will be aimed at tradies though.