New 2018 Defender to share D5's Aluminium monocoque body.

[TerryO]

Well for those of you who are waiting to find out more about the all new Defender as a option for a more serious off roader and all rounder than the new and what appears at first glance city centric D5 here is some interesting news. The new 2018 Defender will reportedly share the D5's aluminium undercarriage so it won't have a full chassis, nor will it be steel.

New Land Rover Defender - 2018 Land Rover Defender Coming Soon

[loanrangie]

I'm not Surprised to hear of a shared platform , it makes economical sense.

[TerryO]

I'm not Surprised to hear of a shared platform , it makes economical sense.

But does it make good engineering sense for what it's intended and stated use is and if serious off roaders don't believe it does measure up then whats the point?

A D4 owner on another forum has mentioned that he recently did a LR factory tour and they had a new model RRS there with a bent sub chassis from being snatched. Suppoesedly the person doing the tour told them that you shouldn't snatch the new aluminium bodied LR's or you risk chassis damage. He recommended that when stuck you need to pull them out slowly without snatching.

If correct then the new aluminium LR's are no longer serious off roaders.

[loanrangie]

Lets face it, it wont be aimed at serious offroaders and the pricetag is likely to reflect that.

[scarry]

Let's hope it doesn't also share wheel size,rear access set up and fuel tank size

[LandyAndy]

Shame Mitsabishi still owns the rights to the word PAJERO
Andrew

[rick130]

Sounds like it'll be a life style accessory and not a work horse.

Hmm, there's still the G-Wagen.

[Graeme]

You people obviously haven't read that the new Disco has reinforced steel sub-frames.

[phl]

I'm not sure why everyone is worried about aluminium being used. As long as the engineering is done, there should be no problem.

Brings back memories of when aluminium was first used for bicycles; everyone reckoned "steel was real", and predicted all sorts of dire problem with aluminium; none of which occurred. Of course the same problem when bicycle frames went from aluminium to carbon fibre...

As for bending a chassis (or subframe) with snatching, same things will happen with a steel frame. And if I recall correctly, the current thinking of doing a snatch recovery is no longer a run-up and pedal to the metal, but more taking up the slack, then measured progress. Safer too, as less loading on shackles and straps.

[AndyG]

As long as it comes in Keswick Green and 85 profile.
Um I will almost old enough then to justify an auto.