Thread: Won’t be retro...

Originally Posted by blackrangie

Anyone notice anything weird in this vid, for me, dual fuel caps, both ripped off by someone?
Electronic device on roof that none of the other mules has had.

YouTube

The thing on the roof is an electronic Cardigan Wearers Litmus Tester. They will make rolling design changes based on the thought of existing LR owners sucked into the gadget each time they drive past. It's not road testing so much as guaging the mood.

Originally Posted by scarry

I think you are going to be disappointed.

It won't be in the 70 series class,or market.

As i have said before,the 70 will soldier on,with very little opposition,as it does today.

The new Defender will be up to date,highly complicated,and highly capable.

It won't be the vehicle of choice for people that today have 76/78/79 series,or probably those that have the old Defender and are looking to update.

Anyway,just my two cents worth

Agreed.

The thing is, if the new Defender was like the 70 series it wouldn't sell at all and LR would probably go under - the 70/79 etc are simply too agricultural and don't meet the safety standards now required by, for example, mine sites. Also, don't presume that the 70 series will be around for much longer - sales of the 70 series weren't significant enough for Toyota to justify fixing their safety issues, which is why they only upgraded the single cab and not the twin cab or wagon. And as much as I like the current Defenders, I wouldn't put my kids in one.

From what I've seen the new Defender is something that I'd look at buying: probably in one of the grades and colours that I wouldn't mind getting scratched. (I had my D4 on some tracks at the weekend and it was completely unchallenged by them but scratches would be very visible given its colour, so I did find myself swinging wide of bushes along the tracks ...)

By the way, I will bet that the new Defender bonnet is going to be chamfered: that D4 style bonnet is a fake.

Originally Posted by Arapiles

Agreed.

The thing is, if the new Defender was like the 70 series it wouldn't sell at all and LR would probably go under - the 70/79 etc are simply too agricultural and don't meet the safety standards now required by, for example, mine sites. Also, don't presume that the 70 series will be around for much longer - sales of the 70 series weren't significant enough for Toyota to justify fixing their safety issues, which is why they only upgraded the single cab and not the twin cab or wagon. And as much as I like the current Defenders, I wouldn't put my kids in one.

With world sales of around 70 000 plus a year,i don't think it is going to disappear fast.

It doesn't have too much competition.

Australian sales are around 12% of that with private sales increasing year after year.

In fact it might outlast the Discovery model run,as it is the lowest selling vehicle in LR's range,around 45 000 a year,world wide.

At least Toyota modified the vehicle to suit various markets,to keep it going,where LR,with the Defender,put up the white flag.

As for safety regs,who knows what will happen in the long run,and what manufacturers will do to their vehicles to comply,particularly commercial vehicles.

Agree with the Defender and children,the one in my sig might be on the market soon,as that son now has a couple of ankle biters,and is concerned with safety.

That the first time I’ve noticed a towbar.

I wonder if the rear wheel carrier is optional ie a RR style wheel well in cargo floor as standard or RWC with long range fuel tank/batteries.

Originally Posted by goingbush

They will be lucky to sell any outside Brighton or Vaucluse.

I thought it was double bay and toorak the other day

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

It better also have very serious towing capacity if it is going to be the best ever. That's one of the main advantages of our 110 with 3500kg towing - it makes towing our camper seem easy. Most of the current Utes don't impress me for towing.

D5 apparently makes towing boring its so good. 3500kg real towing capacity for all engines and sits dead level, new defender will have this as a minimum for sure

Originally Posted by rar110

That the first time I’ve noticed a towbar.

I wonder if the rear wheel carrier is optional ie a RR style wheel well in cargo floor as standard or RWC with long range fuel tank/batteries.

Hmm, yeah good spot with the towbar too.
I think wheel carrier will be optional for full size spare, or some of the mules are soft top or dual cab etc or both.

Its certainly one of the most different mules yet

Originally Posted by ozscott

The thing on the roof is an electronic Cardigan Wearers Litmus Tester. They will make rolling design changes based on the thought of existing LR owners sucked into the gadget each time they drive past. It's not road testing so much as guaging the mood.

I wish i could get the 10 seconds of my life back it took to read that