2020 Defender - Current Defender / Series Owners Thoughts...

[Zeros]

The 2020 Defender is about to be revealed.

The JLR promotional spin and surrounding media frenzy are full of advertorial and gullible reports by acolytes hellbent on promoting the vehicle as being everything to everyone, virtually sight unseen. The lack of detail available has created a world of speculation. The ‘spy camo’ images although heavily disguised appear to show a Discovery 4 type vehicle with little reference to the iconic Defenders heritage.

What we can see is: 20 inch rims, low profile tyres. small load space, independent suspension / no live axles and not much else.

Theres a huge amount being said, claimed and professed by non-Defender owners, including the majority of motoring journos, commentators and Land Rover fans.

I’m interested to hear what Defender / Series owners think.

Obviously many of us are very happy to hold on to the Defenders we already own, but what about the legacy of the icon? the importance of Defender as a pragmatic, heavy duty work vehicle? the distinct possibility that the 2020 Defender will be just another SUV designed primarily for the urban market like all other current Land Rover models?

Defender / Series owners...who else is seeing through the spin?

Start your post with the model Defender/ Series you own...or have them in your signature...mine are below

[Homestar]

I’m not a Defender owner - I’ve only got Series vehicles, but I’m still not convinced it’s even going to make it to market yet. Still time to cancel the whole thing and come up with some BS excuse - even the Mules could be a ruse to gauge public opinion before they commit to making it.

And yes, I think it will be a Defender by name only and be both too expensive for the average Joe and not what made the Defender what it is at all.

But speculating on this side of the coin is no different really to speculating from the pro side of the argument - we still basically know SFA about it, and won’t until it’s officially released (If that happens)

[weeds]

Not much point posting whether it be serious or tongue in cheek......as you get drowned out by a couple of members.

Saw pics today of a troopy with just 20km on the clock getting its roof chopped off.......don’t reckon the all new Land Rover will be configured so that it can be converted to a Poptop.

If I was to change away from my TD5 HT it’d be a troopy......sadly Land Rover have turned it all into a circus.

[grey_ghost]

Me? ‘54, ‘55, ‘60, ‘61, ‘83 and an 89 Perentie (does that count?)

I am eagerly awaiting the new Defender but I fear that I won’t be able to afford it..

[rar110]

There is a lot of spin, Apple style marketing approach.

As a current defender owner, I hope the new Defender meets the requirements of broad appeal and secures its future.

It won’t have a ladder chassis of a MB GW Pro. But it might make clearer the line btw D5 and Defender. The D5 might look different in the future, as it’s competing with the RRS. The Evoke and DS also compete. Crazy stuff.

The new Defender will have better traction capability than the last Defender, if current models are an indication.

It probably won’t have the cargo space of the prev 110, but will equal or exceed the D5.

I can’t see it having a big (1 tonne) load carrying capacity.

I can see the possibility of 17” rims with a low output/capacity petrol 4 cyl. But can see that disappearing later if not sufficient sales numbers and 18” being the norm.

Overall I think it will be a good seller if QA meets expectations.

[roverrescue]

Until / unless they release a 130esque Ute I really don’t care.

I would never own a 110 with the poxy little door into the load space
How the hell is that useful?

I’m not holding my breath that the “new defender” will have:
-HD ute option
-have a tray (not a tub) minimum 1800x1800 and dual cab
-NOT weigh 2.8Tonnes empty
-must be able to eat a tonne in the tray plus load in then cab
- must have a steel bull bar with winch

I’m guessing zero from five

S

[weeds]

Until / unless they release a 130esque Ute I really don’t care.

I would never own a 110 with the poxy little door into the load space
How the hell is that useful?

I’m not holding my breath that the “new defender” will have:
-HD ute option
-have a tray (not a tub) minimum 1800x1800 and dual cab
-NOT weigh 2.8Tonnes empty
-must be able to eat a tonne in the tray plus load in then cab
- must have a steel bull bar with winch

I’m guessing zero from five

S

I’d say we will be keeping our current rides

[scarry]

I’d say we will be keeping our current rides

Thats because ts not a replacement of the old model.

Its actually more a replacement D4 spec vehicle,so maybe we could start a similar thread for D4 owners

Paticularly the ones that don't want a D5,and that would be quite a few of them i am guessing....

[cjc_td5]

The best thing would be for the new model to NOT be named a Defender.
The Defender model was 20 years over due to die. Too narrow, little safety etc etc. The Defender name plate should be put to rest in all of its glory.
The new model won't be in any way related to the old Defender, in many ways in GOOD ways. I only hope it offers models with sufficient bushability (ie vinyl floors, etc etc).

Give me a cross between my D4 and a 130" dual cab and I would have one in an instant.

[blackrangie]

The 2020 Defender is about to be revealed.

The JLR promotional spin and surrounding media frenzy are full of advertorial and gullible reports by acolytes hellbent on promoting the vehicle as being everything to everyone, virtually sight unseen. The lack of detail available has created a world of speculation. The ‘spy camo’ images although heavily disguised appear to show a Discovery 4 type vehicle with little reference to the iconic Defenders heritage.

What we can see is: 20 inch rims, low profile tyres. small load space, independent suspension / no live axles and not much else.

Theres a huge amount being said, claimed and professed by non-Defender owners, including the majority of motoring journos, commentators and Land Rover fans.

Is it fair to discredit JLR for marketing a new vehicle in the same way most companies do and to discredit any motoring journalists that have said anything about the new defender or anything positive about it?

On the other hand, heres a little bit of fairness for defender owners, happy to be shown anything that's not correct or "spin"?. Current defender owners might find some facts here too, like the video of the Hybrid 110 confirmed seen in moab with 32s, solid front/ rear recovery hooks, dual fuel flaps, insane approach, departure, rampover and wheel clearance etc


Won’t be retro...

The distinct possibility that the 2020 Defender will be just another SUV designed primarily for the urban market like all other current Land Rover models?

who else is seeing through the spin?

If you really wanted defender owners genuine thoughts, I suggest to not create a leading thread post and to not use leading questions as above and also not state untruths about all current LR models being for the urban market, just because something is curved for fuel efficiency and comfy it does not mean its designed for the urban market, D5 is pretty much one of the best ALL terrain vehicles on earth for a start. All LR vehicles put a huge emphasis on off-road capability right down to the humble evoque.


To me, I feel based on your question to me in the wont be retro thread today, "do you own a defender" you have made this thread and worded it very carefully to try to get people that are very impressed with what they see of new defender to not post here if they currently own other landrover models such as the D1,D2,D3,D4,D5,RRC,RRS,RRV. We are flatered by all th effort that was gone to for us.

I'm a big believer in giving credit where credit is due, For example: even if I was previously wrong like the y62, turns out its great, but not the best looker imho.

With the new defender I jumped on the won't be retro thread mainly because of posts that where unfair to the new defender usually for some reason from 2 or 3 users (that also happen to own Toyotas,coincidence, who knows).I was seeing people on there seemingly trying to convince people it can't possibly be good with a few round edges and IFS and medium profile tyres. If thats their honest opinion no problems, however the other side needed to be shown and well from the research we have seen in won't be retro thread, it certainly looks to be a very fair replacement of the current defender in many ways. Saying nothing is known about it, saying nothing positive and saying its all "spin" is pretty strange imo, there is infact little that is NOT known fundamentally.

Ill be the first to admit I was wrong if we end up seeing the new defender is rubbish, however there is almost nothing that would give it such a title so far, as per the link attached, quite the opposite.

Im also interested in hearing from Current defender owners, however maybe in answer to a less leading simple question like:

Defender 2020 soon to be released, Current defender owners, what are your thoughts?

Would you not agree this would give fairer unbiased responses?

It is good to see though a few current defender owners on this thread already posting reasonable responses despite this.