Thread: New Defenders Everywhere

Well yesterday I went for my Gold factory tour and drive on the off-road course at Solihull and I must say I have mixed feelings.

Firstly, there are two months worth of new 07 Defenders on site just sitting around awaiting the official release on April 16th. And I really mean just "sitting around". Because the despatch lots are full they are lined up on both sides of the main entry road as you drive in - all insides wrapped in plastic - all "hands-off". I even got cut-off by a worker driving one off the line and over to despatch. The only one I saw, however, which was properly "on-road" was driven by the guy in charge of the actual launch.

The Defender production line is truly amazing - especially when compared to the Disco and Range Rover lines. Whilst the newer lines feel precise and clinical with slot-machine noises everytime an automatic process completes, the Defender line has guys lining up bulkheads with a kick or two here and there. There are many more humans on the Defender line and still the sound of air-guns everywhere.

Seeing the entire process from where a piece of sheet metal pressed into a door frame through to when a vehicle is fired up for the first time and driven off the line is second only to childbirth as one of life's most amazing things. And boy do they rev' the snot out of vehicles on the rolling road test before jamming on the brakes.

I will talk more about the test track experience later but for now I am continuing my quest to get a drive in one of the vehicles before I have to come home next week. They are, however, quite comfy to sit in and the dash is very neat but if you are generously proportioned, then don't expect the shoulder and leg space to be any different. And the handbrake is right where it's always been. Back seats are obviously much better but still mounted high up so only the kiddies can see out properly - unless you're tall enough to look through the safari windows.

Seeing the new bonnet in the flesh, I can't say whether I like the look or not. The recessed panels where the front air vents used to be look stupid so I don't know why they kept them at all. It might have been better if they just flattened them off entirely then continued the "power" bulge right to the rear of the bonnet. It is also odd that they have no badge identification for the new engine on the side (there is reference to this also in the latest "Land Rover Enthusiast" magazine).

Well I must go and do something interesting but I will report later in detail on the test track for those who have not experienced it. Let's just say it was satifyingly severe.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by Reads90

mmmm but the poblem is when i went they did not allow cameras in there. You see some very odd stuff laying around at Lode lane,

They still don't allow cameras there... You can only take pics at HoTL (Home of the Legend) if you've got your back to the factory, otherwise security get a bit twitchy.

M