Interesting article on new Defender from MSN Autos

the_wolf · Mar 4, 2015

It's a yank article but it makes for interesting reading. I'm not sure what to make of the 'chassis made from tank-grade iron' comment as I'm certain that Americans don't really do sarcasm. Deep Dive: All-New 2019 Land Rover Defender: An Icon, Reinvented

KillaJoules · Mar 4, 2015

Ooh baby, one of each please

flat · Mar 4, 2015

made from Iron? What?

Not sure i like new one

the_wolf · Mar 4, 2015

That's not the final design. As far as I know LR won't be releasing it until next year. I think it's been finalised though. There's no indecisiveness anyway, if that is the new one or it even looks remotely like it then I definitely won't be a fan. It looks horrific and no different to the Ewok, new Disco or new Gaylander. It's not a Defender. Hell I was even disappointed when I saw the new Disco sport. It's like they're not even trying anymore.

FlyingPete · Mar 4, 2015

the_wolf said:
It looks horrific and no different to the Ewok, new Disco or new Gaylander. It's not a Defender. Hell I was even disappointed when I saw the new Disco sport. It's like they're not even trying anymore.

It's called brand identity. Every major manufacturer makes vehicles that have similar styling cues. It's only really Land Rover that historically hasn't, due in part to perpetuating old designs and changing ownership multiple times.

The simple fact is that you just can't build a new car anymore that is technologically still in the 1950s- with big lumps of steel on the front, external door hinges and entirely manual mirrors. No one will buy it, and more and more markets won't let you sell it.

My personal opinion is that the production of the 90/110 should have ended when the discovery was launched, and that branded as its replacement, with a few extensions to the range.

the_wolf · Mar 4, 2015

FlyingPete said:
It's called brand identity. Every major manufacturer makes vehicles that have similar styling cues. It's only really Land Rover that historically hasn't, due in part to perpetuating old designs and changing ownership multiple times.

The simple fact is that you just can't build a new car anymore that is technologically still in the 1950s- with big lumps of steel on the front, external door hinges and entirely manual mirrors. No one will buy it, and more and more markets won't let you sell it.

My personal opinion is that the production of the 90/110 should have ended when the discovery was launched, and that branded as its replacement, with a few extensions to the range.

What? Go away. Land Rovers brand identity is the Defender and Series. It's what started it all and still features prominently in many advertisements, even those for Evoques. To say that the Defender should have ended when the Disco came in is just sheer stupidity. Perhaps you would do better on lr4x4.com or something. Clown.

blackstrat · Mar 4, 2015

:hysterically_laughi It looks like a Mini Countryman-based character from Cars..

Turboman · Mar 4, 2015

FlyingPete said:
It's called brand identity. Every major manufacturer makes vehicles that have similar styling cues. It's only really Land Rover that historically hasn't, due in part to perpetuating old designs and changing ownership multiple times.

The simple fact is that you just can't build a new car anymore that is technologically still in the 1950s- with big lumps of steel on the front, external door hinges and entirely manual mirrors. No one will buy it, and more and more markets won't let you sell it.

My personal opinion is that the production of the 90/110 should have ended when the discovery was launched, and that branded as its replacement, with a few extensions to the range.

A Landrover should be, err.......landrover shaped!

And none of the newer models really do what series and Def do, although they have their uses.

wattfield · Mar 4, 2015

FlyingPete said:
It's called brand identity. Every major manufacturer makes vehicles that have similar styling cues. It's only really Land Rover that historically hasn't, due in part to perpetuating old designs and changing ownership multiple times.

The simple fact is that you just can't build a new car anymore that is technologically still in the 1950s- with big lumps of steel on the front, external door hinges and entirely manual mirrors. No one will buy it, and more and more markets won't let you sell it.

My personal opinion is that the production of the 90/110 should have ended when the discovery was launched, and that branded as its replacement, with a few extensions to the range.

20,000 or so a year may not be massive sales, but it's hardly "nobody", and I agree with Wolf, the Defender and Series are Land Rover's brand identity, and have propped up the profits of Rover and it's descendants for many years. The only reason many of us on the forum aren't rushing out to buy the last models is that we can't afford a new one!

PS... I want a Heritage!

jailon · Mar 4, 2015

in my opinion that is damn ugly, i'll stick with the classics for now.......

wattfield · Mar 4, 2015

"Though a live axle setup will survive, it will no longer be located in a ladder frame made of tank-grade iron. Instead, engineering has opted to mate two subframes to a light, rigid unibody"

There goes the future rebuild market.

waldershelf · Mar 4, 2015

FlyingPete said:
The simple fact is that you just can't build a new car anymore that is technologically still in the 1950s- with big lumps of steel on the front, external door hinges and entirely manual mirrors. No one will buy it, and more and more markets won't let you sell it..

Mercedes seem to manage with the G Wagon and JEEP are still selling the wrangler. We need to face facts, Land Rover are no longer interested in making vehicles for farmers, utility companies etc and me. The only historic connection to the new "Defender" is the name and the advertising opportunities.

I don't want one, in fact I don't want any of Land Rovers products made in the last 10+ years.

the_wolf · Mar 4, 2015

waldershelf said:
Mercedes seem to manage with the G Wagon and JEEP are still selling the wrangler. We need to face facts, Land Rover are no longer interested in making vehicles for farmers, utility companies etc and me. The only historic connection to the new "Defender" is the name and the advertising opportunities.

I don't want one, in fact I don't want any of Land Rovers products made in the last 10+ years.

What he said!

MrNasty · Mar 4, 2015

wattfield said:
20,000 or so a year may not be massive sales, but it's hardly "nobody", and I agree with Wolf, the Defender and Series are Land Rover's brand identity, and have propped up the profits of Rover and it's descendants for many years. The only reason many of us on the forum aren't rushing out to buy the last models is that we can't afford a new one!

PS... I want a Heritage!

I can afford a new one, but what is the point? New ones still leak, have stupid problems, the local dealer to me is Marshalls in Cambridge and they are awful. Defenders are crap when new and really are the only vehicle, with exception of TVR, that need to be improved by the owners to actually make them tolerable.

I'm not in to the new look Defender right now, maybe when I actually see the finalised product and it does have solid axles, proper diff lock and not some stupid switch, I could be convinced to buy one, if only for the novelty of driving a Defender with an actual interior designed for a human.

the_wolf · Mar 4, 2015

MrNasty said:
I can afford a new one, but what is the point? New ones still leak, have stupid problems, the local dealer to me is Marshalls in Cambridge and they are awful. Defenders are crap when new and really are the only vehicle, with exception of TVR, that need to be improved by the owners to actually make them tolerable.

I'm not in to the new look Defender right now, maybe when I actually see the finalised product and it does have solid axles, proper diff lock and not some stupid switch, I could be convinced to buy one, if only for the novelty of driving a Defender with an actual interior designed for a human.

Only if you wanted to pay extra for a transfer box

MrNasty · Mar 4, 2015

I'm not expecting to like the new one, don't like any of the rest of the range.

Turboman · Mar 4, 2015

MrNasty said:
I can afford a new one, but what is the point? New ones still leak, have stupid problems, the local dealer to me is Marshalls in Cambridge and they are awful. Defenders are crap when new and really are the only vehicle, with exception of TVR, that need to be improved by the owners to actually make them tolerable.

I'm not in to the new look Defender right now, maybe when I actually see the finalised product and it does have solid axles, proper diff lock and not some stupid switch, I could be convinced to buy one, if only for the novelty of driving a Defender with an actual interior designed for a human.

Me too! And I feel exactly the same, build quality as bad as ever, loads more gadgets I don't want to go wrong, tricksy engine with masses of electronic gubbins and emission control kit. Loads of road performance I don't need, and worse off road.
The coating of the chassis on newer models seems to be terrible, I see them just a few years old with surface rust on the crossmembers.
A lot of the parts and service items are far more expensive than for my 90, and I would need to take it for expensive main dealer services. Main dealer is miles from here also.
Strange bulge on the bonnet, doesn't that get in the way of seeing close up when you are crawling on tricky ground?

the_wolf · Mar 4, 2015

MrNasty said:
I'm not expecting to like the new one, don't like any of the rest of the range.

Same here. The direction they're heading in is no different from any other car manufacturer and thats not the Land Rover I know and love. If it's made before say about 2000 then I would possibly buy/drive it but not any made within the last few years as they're nothing but more or less identical vehicles with a different name.

MJI · Mar 4, 2015

the_wolf said:
Same here. The direction they're heading in is no different from any other car manufacturer and thats not the Land Rover I know and love. If it's made before say about 2000 then I would possibly buy/drive it but not any made within the last few years as they're nothing but more or less identical vehicles with a different name.

Change to 2007 for Defender.

The TD5 was the last whole traditional Land Rover despite having an ECU

the_wolf · Mar 4, 2015

These are the most recent vehicles from Land Rover. They have no ####ing soul

In order - Rangie Evoque, Freelander 2 and Disco Sport. Notice a recurring theme?

Interesting article on new Defender from MSN Autos

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