Won’t be retro...

It looks like a D4 because it was always going to IMO.

IMO They wanted to drop Defender so have replaced D4 with ‘Defender’. It’s what D5 would have been. That’s the reason why the D5 changed shape.

IMO They didn’t want to make a HD work vehicle and couldn’t dump the icon so it’s become the real D5.

IMO It will backfire on JLR because it won’t be a real HD Defender. But it will replace the D4 market, losing the potentially huge Defender work vehicle market. As ASPW says, don’t make another SUV! But of course they look to have .

IMO Discovery will disappear from the line up in a couple of years, to be replaced by 2WD Road Rover.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by blackrangie

Bowler use Flimsy RRS wishbones I believe for their bulldog.
Winning and placing very well in tough rallys.
How do you know they're flimsy has there been instances of them breaking on record?

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I don’t know. But IMO they will be SUV grade not HD. Maybe a bulldog upgrade kit will become available? Who knows.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zeros

I don’t know. But IMO they will be SUV grade not HD. Maybe a bulldog upgrade kit will become available? Who knows.

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Hear what your saying but, bulldogs use RRS wishbones from memory.

In effect the bulldog is using a RRS upgrade kit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SBD4

ASPW puts his spin on it...
https://youtu.be/Y3kK04fvDRQ

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Some interesting comments about that vid online:

"The vehicle in the Photos is a LR4 new Defender test Mule. The pictures were taken by Coventry press in the U.K. The new Defender will be very different and I have been informed that the new Defender will have a utility version with coils and 17/18 inch rims with compact brakes. There will be monocoque aluminium body with independent suspension there will be multiple engine variants to cater for utility to performance variants."
*
"As someone who has approved mule vehicles like this for road testing (most of the setup work for road approval is done in secret at places like MIRA in the UK) the mules are normally registered to whatever has donored the major parts. If it's just a new engine & gearbox in a LR4 shell it would likely be registered as an LR4, albeit very temporarily. However if they have the whole running gear fitted to the LR4 that could be deemed a new model & could be registered either as a LR4 or any designation they wish. If they did register it as "New Defender" then it's definitely a publicity stunt."
*

I am not a fan of this guy per say, but I have to say that I agree with a lot of what he says in this video. Let’s hope that he is right - but as always, we have to wait and see.

Yeah, his presentation style can be annoying, but at least he doesn’t sit on the fence quite as
much as other motoring journos. He speaks his mind, sometimes a little prematurely IMO. But people follow him because he’s actually out there travelling, not just testing new cars

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Originally Posted by weeds

Oh dear....do I dare watch it??

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Glad I resisted watching.......he gives me the ****s.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zeros

Yeah, his presentation style can be annoying, but at least he doesn’t sit on the fence quite as
much as other motoring journos. He speaks his mind, sometimes a little prematurely IMO. But people follow him because he’s actually out there travelling, not just testing new cars

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Agreed, he's passionate,entertaining and some good points.

JLR would be very much wanting/designing this car to expand the appeal base not pillage sales from other JLR models.

To some extent I think it will appeal to D4 buyers, and the delay in releasing the new Defender may be causing D4 owners to delay their upgrade decision. Strong sales by the new Defender might also cause a rethink on the D5.

I disagree with his view about EAS, but that’s ok plenty will choose the coil version for the reasons he says.

I’m not sure he was being sincere when discussing shape of the roof, bonnet and doors. Clearly the mule rolled out for the photo journalist/s has fake panels to conceal the true shape.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rar110

JLR would be very much wanting/designing this car to expand the appeal base not pillage sales from other JLR models.

To some extent I think it will appeal to D4 buyers, and the delay in releasing the new Defender may be causing D4 owners to delay their upgrade decision. Strong sales by the new Defender might also cause a rethink on the D5.

I disagree with his view about EAS, but that’s ok plenty will choose the coil version for the reasons he says.

I’m not sure he was being sincere when discussing shape of the roof, bonnet and doors. Clearly the mule rolled out for the photo journalist/s has fake panels to conceal the true shape.

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I think he was saying remove the padding and its a D4 body, so its a double disguise potentially.