In some ways its a return to a kind of Disco 1 formula, with improvements.
The electronics don't worry me as long as they make them good quality and insulate them well from dust and water.
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In some ways its a return to a kind of Disco 1 formula, with improvements.
The electronics don't worry me as long as they make them good quality and insulate them well from dust and water.
Yep,they could build 20 vehicles with the drivetrain they want to use and pass it around the members from a site like this.I could do the summer hot weather testing,someone in the snowfields can do the cold and there is no sortage of people who could try and break it on trails and tracks.There would be no shortage of helpers. Pat
If we are going Ideal ideas how about portal axles that can turn 180 deg!!!
You could have a live axle low slung wagon for the weekday run around with no clearance issue's(1.6-1.8 high) and at the flick of a hydraulic switch the portals would swing 180 deg. south and raise the defender by 10-12 in. unlike the independant disco rr etc you dont lose the supple suspension or any wheel travel when lifted AND retain identical drive widths as well as wheelbase all the while retaining propshaft angles correct or the castor angles on independant diffs.
If they went with independant suspension they would be foolish not to add airbags.A manual height control would be nice though.
They would be unlikely to convert the D4 chassis to solid axle, more engineering for little gain.
Regards,
Tote
Cool.
This is a Defender concept I like. Doesn't look anything like the current Defender, but has the same design concepts with off-road capability, utility and simplicity.
Qr3 Design | Transport & Product Designers | News
Spot on, having 'Real' blokes testing the vehicle would give LR more information than a bunch of lab rats and bean counters ever could.
Properly funded, a group could take several concept Defenders and put them through all Australia has to offer, see what breaks, see what needs adjusting etc, if the engineers listened to what they were told im sure the new Defer would be one hell of a truck.
THAT, is NOT a Defender, in my opinion.
Should still be Simple, rugged, have live axles, coils and hose out interior.
If you want a 'comfortable' version, buy a Disco or RRC.
The County/ Defenders are an iconic landmark and ARE the design Datum for their intended purpose, which is hard work and no nonsense reliability.
Steer away from this criteria at your own peril, LR.
JC