Thread: Won’t be retro...

I think it's be safe to say the new Defo will have a lot of the styling cues of the old one. Just massively 'modernised' and, in many cases, stylised, and adapted to the new platform. The roofline, the headlights (it'll be one lamp but with stylised parker and indicator and a round-ish main beam area), the taillights (see headlights), etc, etc. The old one is a timeless classic. Truly handsome in its elegant simplicity and practicality. We can only hope the new one respectfully doffs its cap to the old and modernises it without making it look contrived. And delivers a solid function over form ratio. Has to be biased towards practicality and functionality foremost, and then have the rough edges knocked off and massaged to 'look good'. I think it will and I'm excited (but just a little bit fearful). My 2c.

Originally Posted by Zeros

...nah, no spin at all!

Correct

Originally Posted by DiscoClax

I think it's be safe to say the new Defo will have a lot of the styling cues of the old one. Just massively 'modernised' and, in many cases, stylised, and adapted to the new platform. The roofline, the headlights (it'll be one lamp but with stylised parker and indicator and a round-ish main beam area), the taillights (see headlights), etc, etc. The old one is a timeless classic. Truly handsome in its elegant simplicity and practicality. We can only hope the new one respectfully doffs its cap to the old and modernises it without making it look contrived. And delivers a solid function over form ratio. Has to be biased towards practicality and functionality foremost, and then have the rough edges knocked off and massaged to 'look good'. I think it will and I'm excited (but just a little bit fearful). My 2c.

Very reasonable take

I heard from an inside source, and you can take this to the bank. The new Defender will have 4 wheels, seats, a steering wheel, an engine and it will be available in multiple colours. FACT

I heard it could have 2, 3, 4 or 5 doors - mind blowing choice!

...and it won’t be retro. ...ok maybe just a bit...middle front seat, retro dash, ... it will be ‘modern’ not retro ...oh but modern is retro. ..ok it will have Defender ‘styling cues’, but not too many. Actually it’s a retro D4. ...it will be everything to everyone! ...except Defender devotees because they just want a Defender.

Few updates and links from latest articles.

Thought it would be easier to keep all the quotes and info from JLR (and assumptions based on these) regarding the new defender in one place so we can keep updating easily. If you want a quote or info added or even think something should be removed, pm me or say so.

Will keep updating this when time permits.


ENGINES


Jaguar Land Rover insists the Defender will need a "balanced engine portfolio" in order to succeed in all global markets.


JLR has also said it will launch a three-cylinder Ingenium engine that will be used in a future plug-in hybrid version of the Range Rover Evoque compact SUV. JLR is also expected to announce a diesel straight-six Ingenium engine to replace a Ford-sourced V-6 unit.


JLR currently buys V-6 and V-8 gasoline engines from Ford’s Bridgend plant but has said it will end the agreement in 2020. Ford has no other customers for the engines and has said it will cut jobs at the factory as it concentrates on its own four-cylinder engines at the plant. JLR will stop purchasing V-6 diesel engines this year from Ford’s engine plant in Dagenham, London.


New 2020 Land Rover Defender: latest details and spy shots | Auto Express


JLR are on record as saying all of their models will be electrified by 2020, and also that MLA is the platform that will be phased in from around this time, so it is logical to assume that the new defender will be on the MLA platform which will have mild hybrid hybrid and fully electric options.

Multiple exhausts, twin one side exit and dual left and right seperate exits.

Multiple brake and wheel combos show different powered engines.


BODY STYLES


JLR have released the general outline of the new defender as part of a investor presentation

"The Defender has up to ten different body styles from soft top to Utility Wagon to Double Cab Pick Up allowing you to ride around Delray Beach in the Defender that’s best for you and your driving needs."

2020 Land Rover Defender: What We Know | Land Rover Palm Beach

Land Rover's chief marketing officer Felix Bräutigam told Auto Express: "One of the exciting things for us is that we are not launching a car, we are launching a family of cars."

design boss Gerry McGovern has hinted that a performance SVR version of the forthcoming 4x4 could also be on the cards. Such a car would be developed by Jaguar Land Rover’s newly formed Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) division, and would allow the brand to tap into demand in Russia and China for powerful and luxurious rugged off-roaders, currently dominated by the Mercedes-AMG G 63.

It's also likely that a hardcore Defender SVX will join the range at some stage and we could even see a luxurious SVA version in line with the Range Rover SVAutobiography.


New 2020 Land Rover Defender spied testing at the Nurburgring | Auto Express

Rear wheel carier.

Full side swinging rear door

Round head lights.

Left and right defender style vents

Panoramic glass roof option (as seen on nurburgring tester)

Boxy body style

Sloping front roof matching current defender (as seen on latest nurburgring tester)

Some or all pilots seem to have both left and right fuel flaps, electric point? Adblue?


INTERIOR


JLR are on record saying that the leaked images are older pre-production photos however by saying this it is logical to assume that the general layout and seating will be very similar.

2 dealers from 2 different people on this thread have confirmed leaked images of dash including middle seat are general layout.

Latest tech, info screen, digital binacle, multifunction steering wheel

Heads up display

Middle seat.


SUSPENSION


As can be seen on the pilots will have long travel air bag suspension with a coil version option.. one of the original Range Rover Sport mules was spotted with coils.


CAPABILITY


Departure (approx50deg) ramp over and approach (approx 45deg) angles can be ascertained from the new Defender photos.

As part of an investor presentation they showed that the defender will be durable, practical, functional and have offroad expertise.

JLR executive Dr Ralf Speth told Carbuyer that the design and engineering of the new model is all but finalised, and promised that the new model will be “even more capable” than the previous Defender when the terrain gets challenging.

Clearly confident as to the new Defender's abilities, he went on to reveal: “I have driven test mules already… and also tried the car against competitors, in on and off-road environments. It’s sensational.”



RELEASE DATE


JLR US are on record saying released 2019, available 2020, refundable preorders now.
JLRA are on record saying released later this year, available to customers early 2020.

Refundable preorders/build slots are avail now.

GENERAL JLR ON RECORD COMMENTS


The Land Rover Lineup: Land Rover will have three branches to their model lineup: the luxury Range Rover branch, the versatile Discovery branch, and the Defender branch, which aims to offer the “world’s most capable off-road vehicles.”

2019 Chicago Auto Show Recap | The Largest Auto Show in North America

Speaking from the 2018 Paris Motor Show, Jaguar Land Rover's chief marketing officer Felix Bräutigam said: "The new Defender will not simply be a copy-cat, something retro. It will be something that moves the game on for Land Rover."

JLR executive Dr Ralf Speth informed us that early development mules were undergoing testing by bosses back in 2017.

Rather excitingly, the JLR boss assured us that the new car will be “even more capable” than the outgoing Defender when the terrain gets challenging.

Teasing further, he said: “I have driven test mules already… and also tried the car against competitors, in on and off-road environments. It’s sensational.” He would not put a timeframe on when the new Land Rover Defender would debut but he did say: “It is coming. We are working an authentic successor of the predecessor.”

New 2020 Land Rover Defender: latest details and spy shots | Auto Express

Gerry McGovern said: “The Defender is all about durability – that indestructible, durable vehicle which is what a family of Defenders would be.”

Revolutionary design


ASSUMTIONS BASED ON FACTS ABOVE


Safe onroad on/offroad

Very Capable on/offroad

Comfortable on/offroad

Will be durable and will hopefully reasonably reliable comsidering its focus.

Reasonable wheel sizes 18(maybe 17) and upwards

Low to high power engines petrol and diesel (multiple exhaust, brake and wheel pilots combos seen)

Auto with 9 or 10 gears

900mm or more wading ( let's face it the defender will have the same or more capability on then the Discovery or Range Rover

6 seat 110 based on leaked interior shot and 2 dealer confirmations.

8 seat 130 possible.

WILL EVERYONE LIKE IT?

JLR says some diehard fans expecting a carbon copy will may not.

YouTube

"Land Rover’s Modular Longitudinal Architecture will also allow the new Defender to accommodate different drivetrains including internal combustion engines, mild hybrid, and plug-in hybrid systems, and fully electric powertrains. Both body styles will use 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline and diesel units in the entry-level versions, while upper-range models will feature 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder gasoline and diesel units with mild hybrid assistance."


New Land Rover Defender Takes On The Nurburgring - CarBuzz