Thread: New Shape Defender

Hope I didnt get anyone too excited...

Actually I remember some tmie ago some new pictures and concepts went up on a new shape defender.

Does anyone know if this will become a reality in the enar future or has the idea been scrapped?

The pictures you have seen are merely some magazine's idea of what a new Defender might look like. That there will be a new Defender is likely, but they have committed to the present vehicle with modifications at least to 2010 - which does not necessarily preclude a replacement appearing before the current one stops production (RR Classic for example).

Rules on pedestrian friendly fronts in the EU come in about then that will preclude the current Defender shape from continuing, although it is possible that it could continue essentially unchanged except for front end panels - this would be the minimum capital outlay position. But there are a number of other problems, including the ergonomics built in to the 1950s body shape, that to change would require major redesign. And any major redesign will also have to take into account other problems including the ability to fit airbags, and , of course, the most important one - assembly of the current Defender is far too labour intensive. Designing out this problem (and it will happen sooner or later) will result in a vehicle which while it may have a passing resemblance to the Defender, will have about as much in common with it as has the current Beetle to the original one - i.e. nothing.

Of course, Ford may simply put it in the too hard basket and just drop it altogether. Another possibility would be to give up the idea of selling it in the EU and move production offshore to e.g. China.

John