Thread: Won’t be retro...

I think LRs future depends on the new Defender being a huge success. If they get it wrong they're screwed.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

I think LRs future depends on the new Defender being a huge success. If they get it wrong they're screwed.

If they don't have Petrol and 100% Electric options they are screwed. Diesel is dead , and petrol won't be far behind .

Originally Posted by weeds

I too was a skeptic, not sure I posted but have always thought it may never get into production.

The market is flooded with utes that are affordable for the average mug and mostly do what is expected of them......I doubt they will develop a produce to convince the masses to switch.

The new Defender will go into production. If it doesn't their credibility will be shot and Land Rover will become Road Rover.

Good point on utes Weeds, this is already what VW have found with Amarok. Supposedly the Hilux beater for VW - but already they're now saying the next Amarok will be a Ford Ranger based vehicle. However, these are medium duty / size utes.

The only large HD ute currently available are Toyota 70 series and G Wagen. So if the new Defender is a full size HD vehicle it could compete at that level. Hopefully it is and does.

Originally Posted by goingbush

If they don't have Petrol and 100% Electric options they are screwed. Diesel is dead , and petrol won't be far behind .

Petrols dead. Lithium batteries are dead. Cars you drive yourself - dead. Remote areas - dead. Car ownership - dead. Hell, I will be gone at some point, perhaps I should refer to myself as dead too. Me - dead.

Lets not jump the gun. There is still a market for diesel 4x4s, its not dead yet. Considering the new defender has been built and launch is imminent, they will have a strong diesel option - they would be totally screwed if they dont! A 400km plug in defender would be more niche than the old one. I will be impressed if they manage to build a strong ~8l per 100km petrol engine. A petrol hybrid might do well.

New sales of Diesel and Petrol vehicles will be dead within 5 years.

Aussie company Voltra have already converted a 79 cruiser to EV.

Voltra eCruiser - 100% Electric Light Vehicle for underground mining | Voltra

Toyota LandCruiser: Voltra eCruiser, electric ute, BHP

EV 79 Series 'eCruiser' is here - Pat Callinan's 4X4 Adventures


And Toyota themselves said in 2017 that all their vehicles will be EV by 2025.

Every Toyota electrified by 2025 - motoring.com.au

It's very clear who Land Rover's competitor is for the new Defender.

Originally Posted by manic

Petrols dead. Lithium batteries are dead. Cars you drive yourself - dead. Remote areas - dead. Car ownership - dead. Hell, I will be gone at some point, perhaps I should refer to myself as dead too. Me - dead.

Lets not jump the gun. There is still a market for diesel 4x4s, its not dead yet. Considering the new defender has been built and launch is imminent, they will have a strong diesel option - they would be totally screwed if they dont! A 400km plug in defender would be more niche than the old one. I will be impressed if they manage to build a strong ~8l per 100km petrol engine. A petrol hybrid might do well.

The Jaguar I Pace has a range of about 800 kms, so if they offer that EV package in the Defender it should be a winner, if the cost is competitive.

Originally Posted by manic

Petrols dead. Lithium batteries are dead. Cars you drive yourself - dead. Remote areas - dead. Car ownership - dead. Hell, I will be gone at some point, perhaps I should refer to myself as dead too. Me - dead.

Lets not jump the gun. There is still a market for diesel 4x4s, its not dead yet. Considering the new defender has been built and launch is imminent, they will have a strong diesel option - they would be totally screwed if they dont! A 400km plug in defender would be more niche than the old one. I will be impressed if they manage to build a strong ~8l per 100km petrol engine. A petrol hybrid might do well.

No market for diesel 4x4’s in the USA where this will need to sell a lot of units. A good petrol donk is a must for the biggest market they’ll be targeting - as is an EV version as the US’s uptake of EV’s is enormous too. European markets will still want a diesel option, as will a few minnows of the marketplace (Like Australia) But petrol and EV will need to be where they concentrate getting it absolutely spot on.

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

The Jaguar I Pace has a range of about 800 kms, so if they offer that EV package in the Defender it should be a winner, if the cost is competitive.

I don’t think anything about it will be cost competitive to be honest, it will be targeted well above the average Joe like all of their products. Premium price for a ‘premium’ vehicle.