The new defender!

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potus said:
The thing is, LR didn't sell enough of the original Defender and needed to upgrade, improve or call it what you will, to sell more vehicles to a wider market.
They are no longer interested in selling a few trucks to the local farmer.
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Agreed. The Defender was too uncomfortable, too slow, too uneconomical, not safe enough and definitely not reliable enough. Its character made up for an awful lot and people still love it, but sales were simply not strong enough to keep it going even if it had been able to meet legislation. LR had an opportunity to produce a Defender that addressed those issues, whilst retaining the key simplicity and adaptability that made it a global icon. Instead they chose to make a Defender that fitted into their luxury SUV line up.

I also agree that LR are not interested in selling to the local farmer. But that is just the tip of a huge and currently open market. The global demand for a straightforward, dependable vehicle that can be configured and modified to the customers needs is still there. LR used to make the real deal, now they are just making SUVs with "Adventure" and "Explorer" packs for urban wannbees.
 
I put down a deposit as dealer was confident that there would be a pick up, going by the press doesn't look like there will be. Definitely missing a trick as no pick up don't want it. I know a few people who think the same.
 
nope. I’d take an invincible over that everyday of the week and have twice as much faith in it. Yes it has to keep up with modern times etc etc but I don’t see why it’s wearing a defender badge. I just don’t get it. Who’s it aimed at? If it’s aimed at high end then why on earth would you buy one over a nice range. I love the range. It’s so smart. This looks like sh1t. It actually looks like a Peugeot 5008 or whatever it is. Just don’t get it
 
potus said:
It was never going to be the same as the 'old' defender, technically and it has to keep with modern times.

Come on people, how many new or modern vehicles with this level of off road capabilty can be easily 'fixed in the field', not many I can assure you. Reliabilty, this remains to be seen.

Personally, I quite like it but can't afford it.
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Inasmuch as that may be the case, they didn't have to depart so much from the iconic design like they have with this one. Other manufacturers have managed to successfully maintain the heritage of their classic vehicles in more modern iterations of same while still staying compliant with modern design, safety and emissions regulations. Toyota did that successfully with the 70 series land cruiser and the FJ40, jeep with the Rubicon, Suzuki with the Jimmy, and Mercedes with the G-Wagen.
Plus a vehicle can tick all the boxes on any compliance checklist without having to be needlessly complex with miles of CAN-BUS and a zillion ECUs. My opinion as well than land rover missed the mark with making the defender a luxury brand, just like everything on their lineup now. Guess when the next global recession rears its head and sale of luxury vehicles slumps, with no cheap models to keep them afloat, TATA will probably pawn JLR on to Mahindra or the Chinese.
 
I think as others have almost mentioned what gets me most is that LR have ignored their rootes and sold their soul. They have no right to claim lineage to their past vehicles and every advert they pump out showing how great it is in the urban wilderness will grate on me.
 
What Landrover could have built or been similar to as a true replacement for a defender

The other thing Landrover dont seem to be getting is that the different models , including this defender wannabe are all selling into the same market segment , that is they are competing with themselves , How many discovery sales are going to be lost to the new Defender?
 
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tacr2man said:
What Landrover could have built or been similar to as a true replacement for a defender

The other thing Landrover dont seem to be getting is that the different models , including this defender wannabe are all selling into the same market segment , that is they are competing with themselves , How many discovery sales are going to be lost to the new Defender?
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That Bolinger looks like the thing the Top Gear team made way back when they tried to make an electric car.

Col
 
None, but nobody will care.

The look of the new Defender is growing on me tbh, but it won’t be an icon like the old one.

I think the tech in the new Defender will be reliable, they will eventually get scrapped because they basically wear out. But modern cars last well.

The earliest Disco 3’s are still going strong so that’s fourteen years.
 
lightning said:
None, but nobody will care.

The look of the new Defender is growing on me tbh, but it won’t be an icon like the old one.

I think the tech in the new Defender will be reliable, they will eventually get scrapped because they basically wear out. But modern cars last well.

The earliest Disco 3’s are still going strong so that’s fourteen years.
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All cars should last 20 years with regular servicing.

COL
 
How could they get it so wrong?
It may be a Defender replacement, but it certainly isn't a Land Rover.
A good point was made above, the new Defender appears to compete with the existing Freelander / Discovery / Evoque SUV's.
I think it is fair to say that Land Rover has turned its back on the military market and many other markets that they once dominated.
I appreciate that new vehicles have to comply with safety and emissions regulations, but all the Japanese manufacturers produce simple rugged utility vehicles.
Land Rover haven't lost their crown, they have abdicated.
 
lightning said:
I think the tech in the new Defender will be reliable, they will eventually get scrapped because they basically wear out. But modern cars last well.
Click to expand...
That's a contradiction in terms lightning. Modern cars chassis may be a touch longer-lasting. But few owners of 'modern cars' keep them a long time, especially once they are told the engine needs replacing.
Had a friend with an MG hatchback 1800cc, it was about fifteen years old, engine had barely 70k on it. Took it for a service and the mechanic saw the engine was already worn and needed replacing.
 
tacr2man said:
What Landrover could have built or been similar to as a true replacement for a defender
The other thing Landrover dont seem to be getting is that the different models , including this defender wannabe are all selling into the same market segment , that is they are competing with themselves , How many discovery sales are going to be lost to the new Defender?
Click to expand...


How much are they?
The Bolinger looks nice I'm not against it, but here's the thing. Those batteries will need replacing every five years, ten if you are lucky and if you think an engine is expensive, the 100kw worth of batteries will cost an absolute fortune and probably will need a Bolinger Automotive Technician to install and test.
 
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