Thread: New Defender - Any News/Updates?

lets hope they offer the TDV6 and TDV8 as options

LRA no longer sell the 90 in Australia IDIOTS!!!

In the recent LRO (the one that Phoenix's beast was in), the outgoing MD Matthew Taylor, had this to say:
LRO : Plans for a replacement Defender seem to have taken a back seat at the moment. What's going on there?
It has taken a back seat, but the current Defender sells outstandingly well and makes a lot of money. There will be changes next year to meet new European emissions and we will improve a few other things as well. I look at the vehicle and I see it doing well for us.
We have to keep our news fresh and keep them profitable. That takes priority over replacing the Defender.

The D3 & RRS have turned LR around, and put them back in the mainstream particularly here, England & the US. The Defender hasn't been sold in the US for a few years, because of emissions and no airbags. They will change this as the Euro legislation is changing as well.
You'll probably see a tweaked Defender, with minor tech changes, maybe airbag front, and possibly varied motor and not much else for a few years.
The big problem they have (and I think it's a blessing), is that they are basically still a hand made car, so new model in a radical way - means HUGE capital changes and costs. I don't think we'll see any startling new Defender this decade - and that's not a bad thing, if you ask me.
But get LRA into gear. LR & LRA are definately after a different market these days.
LR is the most profitable part of FORD at the monent, and they sold more LR's last year than EVER, so they are going to concentrate on the market they have now I would say.
I would hate to see the Defender dropped from the lineup though

Current model is getting a refresh with a bored out transit engine and new intereior, and eventually an all new model, bt that seems to keep getting delayed and delayed, and even then the current model still may survive.

Actually the one I mean is the one that has been talked about for a while with TDV6 or TDV8 which is the new shape [LWB].

Like I say, I am very happy already with the current model and glad I have secured a 90 for myself but practicality for the family is pressing.

I know there were some concept pictures floating around a while ago but nothing since then.

Anyway, if there is any word on the street please share!

Originally Posted by def90

Actually the one I mean is the one that has been talked about for a while with TDV6 or TDV8 which is the new shape [LWB].

Like I say, I am very happy already with the current model and glad I have secured a 90 for myself but practicality for the family is pressing.

I know there were some concept pictures floating around a while ago but nothing since then.

Anyway, if there is any word on the street please share!

The concept shapes you refer to were just that - concepts, none as far as I know from either Ford or Landrover. It would make sense for Landrover to produce a Defender replacement on the D3 platform, but this, while it may carry a Defender nameplate would bear no relation to the current Defender, and the current Defender could well continue in production. Whether it would be possible to produce the variety of body styles of the Defender on this platform, I doubt, so it may well be difficult to drop the current Defender. But eventually we could see several different "Defenders" based on a variety of different Ford vehicles. But it could be a long time before the real Defender is dropped, although its manufacture is very likely to be moved to one or more low labour cost countries.
The engine is a different matter - and is likely to change around among Ford family engines as seems to suit Ford best, and may well vary from one market to another, as has happened in the past with its ancestors.
John

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Landrover to produce a Defender replacement on the D3 platform, but this, while it may carry a Defender nameplate would bear no relation to the current Defender, and the current Defender could well continue in production.

The Defender Classic!

Ron

I posted on this a while back after talking to a guy who works on the line. New engine, and new dash for the 2007, but otherwise unchanged. I guess that will continue for at least a few years until they work out what they want to do.

I thought the 90 was still available here but on special order.

The engine that is going into the refreshed defender is a TD engine from the mondeo which had been bored out to 2.7L from 2.2L. Matt