Defender replacement - Any news (good/bad?)

[drjtwright]

Anyone have the latest news on the proposed Defender replacement?

I've always wanted a defender and I need to know how much time I have left to purchase one new before they emasculate and destroy my dream truck.


Also, any thoughts or opinions on the best design? From what I read... it sounds like LR is thinking of switching to a monocoque chassis. The current Disco has both a Monocoque AND a Ladder chassis (its heavy as S#!$ though).

From what I understand... the cons of having a monocoque design are: decreased range of motion/wheel articulation, and if you are in a jam and need to get winched out there may be problems with attaching the winch in the wrong place and bending your chassis (which in a monocoque could potentially mean the vehicle is a permanent write off). Also, modifying the body (lifting) or creating different versions (pickup, station wagon, etc) is much more difficult or impossible without a full redesign.

The pros to a monocoque would be: lighter and better fuel economy, better on road handling, possibly greater safety in collisions. (these things are not really that important though to the people who have a defender in mind).

[the_preacher1973]

DC100 is dead at least as far as being the Defender's replacement goes. Could be produced as something else.

Rumour has it that it will be built on the current D3/D4/RRS chassis.

I have no problem with that so long as they give us a great big ****ing off switch for the electronics. Just had the D3 at the beach for the week and I must say it's most unnatural to have your foot buried to the firewall, engine idling at 800 rpm and no wheels moving at all.

[Michael2]

Talk was that the Defender would retain a chassis due to it's load carrying capacity. The Disco would move away from a chassis.

They have said they have 5 prototypes, but have only shown one.

There is rumour that the 2015 date may be stretched out.

I think there's as much actual information as there is deliberate misinformation coming from LR.

I think if we look at the FJ Cruiser we see a car full of design cues and technology, but an ultimate FAIL. The old Cruiser was fit for expedtion and exploration, the new one is fit for style. The DC100 looked like it would be the same kind of mistake.

As for looks, if you want to meet a nice girl, you look for someone beautiful in their own right, not someone who has "design ques" "Oh she's got her mother's pretty nose, her father's deep eyes, but she's not really that attractive." Drop the design ques and make a great next generation car and keep the practical features (which Toymotor didn't).

[d@rk51d3]

DC100 is dead at least as far as being the Defender's replacement goes. Could be produced as something else.

Saw a program on the TV last week, and they were still touting the DC100 as the Defenders replacement. Fella was doing a bit of sand driving, and raving about how much he loved it.

Still, it may have been an older re-run?

[drjtwright]

Talk was that the Defender would retain a chassis due to it's load carrying capacity. The Disco would move away from a chassis.

..by retain a chassis... I presume you mean the body on frame ladder design. I do think that would be the best plan and make the most sense to keep the body on ladder frame design. ... at least for the Defender model.

Does the disco have any additional benefit (that outweighs the added weight) to having both a monocoque and a ladder frame chassis? (any new disco owners want to chime in here?)

I think if we look at the FJ Cruiser we see a car full of design cues and technology, but an ultimate FAIL. The old Cruiser was fit for expedtion and exploration, the new one is fit for style. The DC100 looked like it would be the same kind of mistake.

Agreed! ... However.. I think that is exactly what Tata and LR wanted to do! (aka. make it fit for style and increase general appeal).
Their aim is to increase the market for the Defender and increase volume of sales.. and I do understand that the only way to do that is really to make it more "on road" than "off road" and also to make it more comfortable and luxurious.

However...

If they can somehow retain the basic architecture and not sacrifice any.. and I mean ANY of the performance, strength, and off road capabilities. ... then they may have something. Otherwise they will Kill it!

The other option is to continue making the classic defender and then to sell the new defender alongside it (like they did with the new Range Rover and Range Rover "Classic" a few years back). At least for 10 years (minimum)!! I think considering the classic icon nature of the Defender this would be the best business plan. At least until they can demonstrate a minimum of 10 years of proven sales of the new design and more importantly proven performance for 10 years by people who actually are going to use this vehicle off road (AULRO members for example).

[camel_landy]

Anyone have the latest news on the proposed Defender replacement?

I've always wanted a defender and I need to know how much time I have left to purchase one new before they emasculate and destroy my dream truck.

There are bigger things in life to worry about...

TBH - ANYTHING you hear about the Defender replacement WILL be just speculation. A couple of concepts have been floated but nothing solid has been announced.

M

[the_preacher1973]

There are bigger things in life to worry about...

TBH - ANYTHING you hear about the Defender replacement WILL be just speculation. A couple of concepts have been floated but nothing solid has been announced.

M

Any truth to the rumour it's been pushed back to 2017?

[camel_landy]

Any truth to the rumour it's been pushed back to 2017?

M

[Mike_S]

M

[pannawonica]

R.I.P Gaylander !