New defender...err discovery?

[Turtle60]

I know this is the discovery section but after viewing the new defender (and I like what I see) then perhaps this is more “discovery5” than defender. I mean air suspension, boxy shape, all the electronic smarts, leather (really) etc etc. Haven’t been able catch all the specs but if they put a decent fuel tank under now the spare is on the back then things are looking very optimistic.
Our defender 130 owning son said he’s out until he was told of a commercial edition that may be able to be hosed out. Well see what arrives. He’s not convinced.
Downside is June 2020 in Oz. Time to save up.

[shanegtr]

To me, my D3 has been the best all round 4wd I've owned. Judging by the looks alone the D5 has gone more black top than off road in its design. I think the defender really nails the brief of what a lot of D3/4 owners (who use them off road as well as on) want. Me personally Im waiting to see what the 130 wagon turns out like. Not that I'll be able to afford one but...

[rick130]

To me, my D3 has been the best all round 4wd I've owned. Judging by the looks alone the D5 has gone more black top than off road in its design. I think the defender really nails the brief of what a lot of D3/4 owners (who use them off road as well as on) want. Me personally Im waiting to see what the 130 wagon turns out like. Not that I'll be able to afford one but...100%

The new 'Deefer' is what the D5 should've been.
I think anyone that loves their Disco will love the new Defender.
(And a TD5 110 just drive past so I'm convinced! [emoji23])

[loanrangie]

The new Deffy is like a defender and a D4 got it on and this is the lovechild that most people hoped it would be.

[Briar]

Having had a couple of days to get used to the shape and features, my main thought is thank you JLR for increasing the value and desirability of my D4. Should help enormously if I ever decide to trade it.

[shanegtr]

100%

The new 'Deefer' is what the D5 should've been.
I think anyone that loves their Disco will love the new Defender.
(And a TD5 110 just drive past so I'm convinced! [emoji23])

Read a brief interview with Gerry McGovern:
Defender designer Gerry McGovern on reviving an icon | Autocar (https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-frankfurt-motor-show/defender-designer-gerry-mcgovern-reviving-icon)
Interesting comment in that the Defender is aimed at the previous D3/4 owner:


What does the Defender’s look mean for the next-generation Discovery? It looks to some degree to have moved into a space that car used to live in?
“That’s a fair question. People will graduate to this Defender who had a Discovery 4 (https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/land-rover/discovery-2004-2016), we suspect, and we are planning for that. Let’s say the next-generation Discovery (https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/land-rover/discovery) now has some room to move and do a different job. It might allow us to move Discovery on (https://www.autocar.co.uk/slideshow/30-years-how-discovery-changed-land-rover#1), although it bears saying again that the Discovery remains a true seven-seater in our range, whereas the Defender is a 4+2 or 4+4 or 5+3, depending how you configure it.

[Briar]

Read a brief interview with Gerry McGovern:
Defender designer Gerry McGovern on reviving an icon | Autocar (https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-frankfurt-motor-show/defender-designer-gerry-mcgovern-reviving-icon)
Interesting comment in that the Defender is aimed at the previous D3/4 owner:

Thanks for article, interesting read. What I found very very interesting was one of the comments below that article:

"One can not help but think that this new Defender, has just “called-time” on the increasingly anonymous, irrelevant, “Series 5” Discovery . . . expect very generous discounts on the “Series 5” Discovery, at a Dealer near you, very soon!! "

[1nando]

I'm liking the new defender. My only concern is the air suspension. I'm not convinced on air suspension.
I have hydraulic suspension on my y62 and it is excellent. Extremely reliable and a relatively simple system that mimics a live axle off road to some degree.
In saying that ill follow the new defender closely and see how people are finding them. If after 3 years they're relaible, tough and capable I'll buy a new one.

[Turtle60]

I'm liking the new defender. My only concern is the air suspension. I'm not convinced on air suspension.
I have hydraulic suspension on my y62 and it is excellent. Extremely reliable and a relatively simple system that mimics a live axle off road to some degree.
In saying that ill follow the new defender closely and see how people are finding them. If after 3 years they're relaible, tough and capable I'll buy a new one.

Nothing wrong with the Y62 but you have standard coil springs and a very very good hydraulic KDSS like sway bar system. Discoveries mimic this in low range rock crawl with air able to pass from left to right. So live axle like.
The airbags set these cars apart and is a brilliant and reliable feature. Even better if your towing . Be convinced I’d say.
Cheers

[1nando]

Nothing wrong with the Y62 but you have standard coil springs and a very very good hydraulic KDSS like sway bar system. Discoveries mimic this in low range rock crawl with air able to pass from left to right. So live axle like.
The airbags set these cars apart and is a brilliant and reliable feature. Even better if your towing . Be convinced I’d say.
CheersMy only concern is that working with heavy vehciles all day every day i see my fair share of air leaks. The hydraulic system is very relaible and simple, but time will tell if the defenders air system is reliable. If after some time the general feedback is positive then I may very well have another defender 110 in my driveway.

[twr7cx]

I have hydraulic suspension on my y62 and it is excellent. Extremely reliable and a relatively simple system that mimics a live axle off road to some degree.


The hydraulic system is very relaible and simple

I don't think it's a case of one or the other - e.g. air or hydraulic. I'm not overly familiar with the Y62, but my understanding is that it's a coil spring vehicle - so instead of air bags for the springs it uses the metal coil springs. The hydraulic component that you speak of is instead of the swaybars - so that's the anti roll system.
So you can actually have both air and hydraulic. The Discovery Series 2 was an example of this with the SLS air bag suspension springs in the rear and the ACE hydraulic anti roll system.
In terms of simplicity a standard coil spring and swaybar setup is the most simple. Both the new Defender and your Y62 have thrown a more complicated system in to achieve better results. It's not a bad thing but comes with a bit more maintenance and risk, especially as the vehicle ages. For Land Rover air springs aren't new - they've used them in their products since the 90's in various proper Range Rover models, Discovery 2, 3, 4, Range Rover Sport and perhaps some others that I don't know about - so it's not some new tech being prototyped in the Defender.



My only concern is that working with heavy vehciles all day every day i see my fair share of air leaks.

I have no doubt, but despite the fair share of air leaks, there's a reason why those heavy vehicles are still using air suspension.
The units your seeing that are leaking likely have traveled some very high kms and carry some very heavy loads so they've probably pushed the air springs hard, particularly in their later years. Despite the fair share of air leaks, there's a reason why

[scarry]

But where the EAS really shines,is towing.

And off roading.

The Y62 system is simpler,but no where near as versatile.

As i said on another post,if the new model Patrol has EAS,even just in the rear,it would make a fantastic towing vehicle.

[loanrangie]

Air suspension has been fitted to trucks and buses for yonks so nothing new there.

[Markus1]

Looks perfect for light duty work.

[Dagilmo]

I'm liking the new Defender. Though, the article I read said torque from the diesels was mid 400s or so. If that's correct, in one sense it's a bit disappointing but on the other hand I'm not disappointed I just bought the D4 and won't have Defender envy for a bit.

On the air suspension, main reason I first bought the D3 and why I stayed with LR and bought the 4. Road hight during the week. Off road height for the weekend. No alignment or CV issues. Awesome.

[twr7cx]

...the article I read said torque from the diesels was mid 400s or so. If that's correct, in one sense it's a bit disappointing...

The torque numbers aren’t as relevant these days. With 16 speeds (8 in the automatic transmission by the hi low transfer box) it becomes far less important. Ford have shown this with success in their Ranger as well with the move down to the 2L motor.

On a side note Defenders hav always used small efficient engines and good gearing to do their thing. At mid 400 Nms it’s likely far more torque than any previous Defender model.

[Turtle60]

Digging deeper it still only has an 85lt tank so disappointing as that could have been designed bigger but no doubt room for more at a cost again. But the specs from landrover uk states only 150kg towball weight. Now that sucks and could well be a deal breaker.

Interestingly their promo video shows it towing an Australian Bruderx that has a unladen weight of 1980kgs. They don’t advertise its towball weight but at 7.5% that’s 148 kg. Very few loaded vans or many camper trailers will achieve under 150kgs.
To tow it’s advertised 3500kg and achieve a 150kg towball weight means 4.2% towball ratio which if not illegal is very unsafe. The rear axle load in the rear is D4 like with 400kgs more over the rear axle. Looking more like a reskinned D4 albeit a good reskin.

Maybe my D4 is here to stay. Still they have to come up with something to stop it cannabolising the D5. Hopefully my figures are wrong.

[scarry]

That 150KG is UK spec only.
It will be 350KG in Aus,they have said.

Fuel tank size is disappointing,and as I said on another post,there isn’t the luxury of making room for an aftermarket one by relocating the spare.

[hpal]

Our defender 130 owning son said he’s out until he was told of a commercial edition that may be able to be hosed out.

Not having a shot at anyone, this is purely an observation. Why do people talk so often about a hose out interior? It's not a 1948 model with no floor mats or anything, that (among other leaks) is why all the floors rot out! Water trapped under the mat rusting your floor out, you wouldn't hose out a hilux or anything just because it has a vinyl floor and not carpet. If the new defender has vinyl/rubber surfaces able to be mopped and wiped clean then that's pretty good.

[Aussie Jeepster]

Not having a shot at anyone, this is purely an observation. Why do people talk so often about a hose out interior? It's not a 1948 model with no floor mats or anything, that (among other leaks) is why all the floors rot out! Water trapped under the mat rusting your floor out, you wouldn't hose out a hilux or anything just because it has a vinyl floor and not carpet. If the new defender has vinyl/rubber surfaces able to be mopped and wiped clean then that's pretty good.
Perhaps you aren't driving a "real" off roader if you can't hose it out - the Wrangler is a case in point.

[hpal]

Yeah my old TD5 Defender was definitely a real off-roader and a very practical vehicle. I think part of what made it so was that I didn't mind scratching it and bashing it around the bush. The D3, which I also love, is in my opinion just as good off-road but I don't have the desire to scratch it up. They're both off-road vehicles but one had a more rugged exterior and the other is much prettier. Both great vehicles in many ways, but I prefer the D3 in most ways eg comfort, ride, space, air-conditioner, cabin noise, safety, washers and wipers that work, no drips on the feet when raining, door seals which seal etc etc.

I think the new Defender is an absolute win, spot on. It'll do everything asked of it and do it with style. Still wont want to scratch it though.

[Turtle60]

That 150KG is UK spec only.
It will be 350KG in Aus,they have said.

Fuel tank size is disappointing,and as I said on another post,there isn’t the luxury of making room for an aftermarket one by relocating the spare.

Thanks for putting me straight. That’s a relief. I think one of these will end up in my garage!

[Briar]

Following for the last year as well with interest the concept of the Ineos Grenadier project. 1 Tonne load carrying, 3.5 Tonne towing. Might be an alternative to the new Defender?

The Ineos Grenadier will be a no-nonsense, British 4x4 | Top Gear (https://www.topgear.com/car-news/suvs/ineos-grenadier-will-be-no-nonsense-british-4x4)

Home | INEOS Grenadier (https://ineosgrenadier.com/)