Thread: An update.

Does anyone know if the current speculation also includes whether there will be an auto/semiauto option?

Also does 'SVO' mean that they will shoehorn the Jaguar F Pace Diesel 6 (220KW) in? (and is it only me that wishes they would put it in a disco sport...?

Originally Posted by QRS40

Does anyone know if the current speculation also includes whether there will be an auto/semiauto option?

Also does 'SVO' mean that they will shoehorn the Jaguar F Pace Diesel 6 (220KW) in? (and is it only me that wishes they would put it in a disco sport...?

You can almost bet on an auto option as it is the only way to get terrain response and HDC et al to work completely. I will not be surprised if it comes as an auto only actually

Rob

New Land Rover Defender will be brand’s most high-tech car yet |

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

New Land Rover Defender will be brand’s most high-tech car yet |

The LR comment on declining sales is fascinating. In a global market for heavy duty 4WD utes, mining, agriculture etc. there have really only been the old Nissan, Toyota's 70 series and Defender. Once Nissan left the field sales of Defenders in Oz actually increased slightly as curious users experimented and sadly found the ergonomics and service and support left a lot to be desired outside of any CBD. Clearly a reflection of LR's view of the product at the time. As well the lack of a heavy duty dual cab option has seen increasing growth in ISUZU and others with their excellent light 4WD trucks which are expensive, sort of, to purchase but their duty cycle and cost of ownership are darned good.

IMHO if LR get their pricing and the product right for the commercial market they have an open field of opportunity given the age of the 70 series and where it fits in OHS&W requirements current and future. If they know and understand the fleet market, not convinced as it has never been their core business or even and adjunct to it, then with a great product they have the opportunity to make a very large dent in Toyota's fleet sales globally. Now that may seem a big call but if you are chasing >50,000 sales and you want to be a player in the 4WD fleet market you sharpen your pencil, setup fleet deals and chase hard

Only time will tell but having spend time with the new Discovery and it is a wonderful thing, I can't see myself taking it to all the places we take the D4. So I am seriously hoping LR will and has taken the time to not only design and develop a brilliant replacement for Defender but that it is priced and optioned for not only recreational users but the light commercials as well

Rob

Originally Posted by RobA

........ If they know and understand the fleet market, not convinced as it has never been their core business or even and adjunct to it,......

Rob

On the contrary, I suggest that it was their core business at least from 1949 to 1967 (Leyland merger), and possibly into the seventies.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

On the contrary, I suggest that it was their core business at least from 1949 to 1967 (Leyland merger), and possibly into the seventies.

Les Thiess showed LR what core business really meant, at least in Australia, by his promotion of LandCruisers on the Snowy Scheme, 1958. LR's market share complacency cost them big time in the long run. They have a lot to claw back.

Originally Posted by johntins

Les Thiess showed LR what core business really meant, at least in Australia, by his promotion of LandCruisers on the Snowy Scheme, 1958. LR's market share complacency cost them big time in the long run. They have a lot to claw back.

Agreed and hence my comments.

I have been in the fleet industry for a while and have had a number of clients "evaluate" Defender when Nissan pulled the ute and whilst Defender strength was good ergonomics, service and support were non existent. All of which Toyota do very well. There is a gap in the market and the ageing 70 series is still, sadly by the look of it, a ways of a replacement. So the opportunity is there if they have a well priced, capable and specified product. Which if it comes to pass should be a great thing for many of us looking for a capable 4WD and excellent touring machine capable of towing our off road camper. I am thinking GLander but at a more affordable price. I just love the triple diff-locks and capability of those things just not affordable

Rob

Theiss's importing of Toyotas was a direct result of the simple fact that he could not buy Landrovers. The reason for this was that Rover was unable to meet the demand, up until 1967 because, as a small company with limited resources, they were unable to find the capital needed to increase production. Post 1967, because Leyland was using the company's profits to fuel further acquisitions, initially, later to prop up loss making ventures. Supply of Landrovers did not meet demand until the mid seventies, and I don't think this was because of any great increase in capacity, but rather the market started to shrink, perhaps mainly because lack of capital from Leyland meant the design was stagnant, but also because the whole organisation had operated in a seller's market for over twenty years.

This resulted in rationing of supplies to each market, and in 1958, with the Australian Army planning to replace their Jeeps with Landrovers, most of the available Australian ones were earmarked for this sale, leading to delivery times of many months for other buyers. Those fleet owners already customers, such as SMHEA and government departments would have been aware of the situation and ordered well in advance. Theiss, with a rapidly expanding business, even if he was aware of the situation, could not have placed orders far enough ahead.