Thread: NEW Defender Discussion

and in other news, this:

Autobild Alles Allrad a German automotive magazine is reporting in their February issue information regarding Land Rovers new model introduction schedule and an evolution of the new T5 platform named T6 for the next generation Range Rover Sport and bigger Range Rover. However Autobild says the new T6 platform will only be signed off if there is enough funding for the project. If not then next generation Range Rover and Range Rover Sport will most likely share the T5 platform in order to keep development costs lower. The smaller than Freelander (Baby Landie) and 2006 Freelander will share the C1+ and C1 platform and the next Discovery (4) and all-new Defender will use the T5 platform. Autobild is usually very reliable but some of this information is probably speculative. Autobild suggests the new model introduction schedule will break down like this.
- 2005 Range Rover Sport
- 2006 New Freelander/C1
- 2006 Range Rover Facelift
- 2007 RR Sport Variant
- 2008 Discovery Facelift
- 2008 Baby Landie/C1+
- 2009 RR Sport Facelift
- 2009 New Range Rover/T6
- 2010 Freelander Facelift
- 2010 New Defender/T5
- 2011 New RR Sport/T6
- 2012 Baby Landie facelift
- 2012 All-New Discovery/T5

Has the new defender been delayed now for that long????

I wonder if this adds more creedence to the suggestions of a facelifted defender with new engines and interiors ????

Oh, and all of that was shamelessly nicked from the landrover chronicle :wink:

interestingly there has been a suggestion that there may be New Defender (a T5-based Defender that meets USA import standards) and Classic Defender (the existing design to be continued in production for military/industrial use and not for export to the USA).

Could be interesting.

also this

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>New Defender a Tricky Proposition

By Alisa Priddle

WardsAuto.com, Jan 3 2005

Emotional and financial issues make a new-generation Land Rover tough to engineer for the U.S. market.

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As Land Rover revamps its entire lineup, the Defender will be last to bat, coming to the U.S. around 2008, if at all.

“The Defender is an icon,” says Design Director Geoff Upex. “It’s the last one on the list.”

Land Rover Defender

The SUV will not come to the U.S. until the auto maker engineers an all-new next-generation as it needs to be re-engineered to meet U.S. regulations, Upex says.

It will not be an easy task. There are a lot of emotional and financial issues.

For starters, executives must identify exactly what the Defender is, says Upex, “because it’s been all things to all men. The problem is it fits all over the place now.”

It is an iconic product, rugged, with a military heritage, says Richard Beattie, Land Rover executive vice president-sales and marketing.

For the U.S., it would “be suggestive of that heritage, but not as rugged,” he says. “The U.S. market is more sophisticated, needs technology and utility. It might look like it (the current Defender), but be different,” Beattie says.

Beattie says there are a lot of enthusiasts in the company for the project, and all alternatives are being explored.

But he stresses there are no formal plans at this point. A business case must be made for it, and “we’re not even close to that analysis.” He says executives are working on general direction at this point.

A major obstacle is that a short-wheelbase 2-door vehicle platform does not exist, says Beattie. Land Rover’s new T5 platform, which debuted with the LR3 this year and will be followed by the Range Rover Sport this summer, provides the underpinnings for most of the auto maker’s lineup going forward. (See related story: Range Rover Sport Expands Family)

“T5 can do a lot of things, but when you start changing the wheelbase you’re spending a lot of money,” says Beattie. “It’s a tough business case.”

The T5 platform also comes with a fixed cost for the wealth of technology it contains, says Upex, which in turn “almost automatically fixes the cost of the vehicle and its selling cost.

“It’s almost impossible to take money out of a product,” Upex says. “Once you have a platform, it predetermines price and almost defines volume, as volume drops with price.”

“The business challenge always is the chassis platform,” agrees Beattie. “It’s easy to move upmarket with it. It’s tough when you take a platform and want to go lower down. The economic truth is it is easier to do more expensive. It’s easier to do a Range Rover than a low-priced Defender.”

The Defender’s current business model is based on the fact it uses 1948 manufacturing technology, Upex says. “The advantage is Land Rover can almost custom-make one for a customer. But that’s not how the auto industry is today.”

While the second-most affordable vehicle in the Land Rover lineup, the Defender still is not an inexpensive vehicle.

On the positive side, Land Rover executives say the Hummer H2 is evidence there is a market for luxury SUVs, proving it is possible to sell a $60,000 utility vehicle at a rate of 60,000 units a year. [/b][/quote]

Originally posted by Phoenix

<span style="color:red"> [size=24] NICE!!!</span>

[size=18]<span style="color:red">WHATTA BEAST!!!!!</span>

I'll Take 2!!!!!

(and respray it to a nice black!!)

Now thats a wicked 4wd!!

Love it!

Cheers
Knight :wink:

Fantastic....different colour and I would put my name down.

Good on LR Brazil for trying something a little different!

If it means selling more Landies, they should be doing it other countries, rather than reducing their model range :wink: (Sorry I could not resist the jab).

Phoenix -- great stuff!

2010 for the Defender 8O The war will be over by then! I don't think Ford will let that one drag on that long if they want to share it with the Bronco :?

It is interesting about the problems with the new 90. If you noticed from all the recent pics of the new Bronco/Defender from the US, there was every conceivable derivation in the 110/130 range, but no SWB 90.

Kimba's value is increasing by the hour! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

Can't see any practical improvements.

Looks impressive though.