Thread: Disco 5 spy pics...

D5 looks to be a bigger version of Disco Sport. A city centric SUV as expected. ...2018 Defender will look more like a D4 IMO.

Originally Posted by MrLandy

D5 looks to be a bigger version of Disco Sport. A city centric SUV as expected. ...2018 Defender will look more like a D4 IMO.

So a lack of rivets and rounded panels = city centric??

Originally Posted by Tombie

Do some research into the strength of hydro forming - I believe this new vehicle will be far stronger than the current Steel chassis version.

If a monocoque sedan can happily pull 2.5t with the right tow pack without issue then this new unit will no doubt be well within capability and longevity.

What really needs to happen is for a mandate on towing and manufacturers to produce vans from composites etc and work towards a lower ATM limit... Something like emissions levels... By 2017 for example no caravan to exceed 3000kg ATM etc..

(With composites and modern techniques there's no reason for modern Vans to weigh more than 2750kg at even the larger limits.)

That will never happen,the Oz van manufacturers will scream about closing up shop with all the lost jobs,Toybota and Missan should be held accountable for their over wieght barges for the same reason. Pat

Originally Posted by MrLandy

D5 looks to be a bigger version of Disco Sport. A city centric SUV as expected. ...2018 Defender will look more like a D4 IMO.

That's the full size disco5 concept.

The spy pics show the car to be almost identical to the concept save for some of the disguise panels:



Anyone have a view on how long is it to full production from the time cars are seen in camo?
EDIT: seems to be about a year. So perhaps a late 2016 release with early 2017 in Aus?

Originally Posted by SBD4

So perhaps a late 2016 release with early 2017 in Aus?

For some time now the suggestion has been late 2016 release with first (UK?) customer deliveries early 2017.

Originally Posted by Tombie

So a lack of rivets and rounded panels = city centric??

Yeah, looks totally bush ready to me, nothing to mod whatsoever. 👍

Originally Posted by MrLandy

Yeah, looks totally bush ready to me, nothing to mod whatsoever. ddc4d

Check out some YouTube footage, you may be surprised.

Originally Posted by Tombie

What really needs to happen is for a mandate on towing and manufacturers to produce vans from composites etc and work towards a lower ATM limit... Something like emissions levels... By 2017 for example no caravan to exceed 3000kg ATM etc..

(With composites and modern techniques there's no reason for modern Vans to weigh more than 2750kg at even the larger limits.)

That is fine to say what the industry should be forced to do but would it be affordable?

If you compare the various so called light weight composite bodied vans that are built for Australian conditions that are around now, for a van over 20' they all start around the 110k plus mark which prices them out of the ballpark for the vast majority of van buyers.
I recently roughly costed a good quality light weight off road 24' composite bodied van with an alloy chassis which would have had a TARE of approximately 2500kg and with the extras I wanted it was easily heading towards 170k plus. I gave up costing it any further at that point but I reckon it would have ended up at around the $180k plus mark.

Given your preferred ATM of 3ton then 2500kg would be about the maximum TARE weight allowed if you want a reasonable usable carrying capacity.

As far as I know the vast majority of over 20' new vans sold are priced in the $50k - $75k zone it is unlikely that the majority of van buyers could step up to the higher costs that would come with light weight vans even if they were forced to by law and as you would like to see happen.

Personally I'd really like a decent sized extended travel, live in, light weight off road capable van but right now the price, for me anyway, is prohibitive.
I also did a cost comparing exercise and a similar 24' conventional built van with the same lay out that has all the same bells and whistles weighs approx 600kg more and costs about $110k all up, that is roughly $60k cheaper than the similar light weight version.

Good idea but at this stage until a van builder works out how to do it affordably and in mass more than likely not realistic for one and secondly if forced to and the prices stayed the same could ruin most of the caravan industry.