If the current Defender line is not selling enough then something had to change, Landrover are a business so keeping ahead of the competition and profit is the name of the game. If you already have a Defender, 90, 110, or Series then you own a design classic that may well increase in value after production stops, were you ever likely to buy a new Defender? So why worry?
Landrover originally made their name with robust off road ability, and became leaders in this market, they have for some time been looking to the luxury end of the market and have put the same effort into this to become the leaders in 4x4 luxury cars.
The Defender has kept the same basic looks and construction since the series 2 was launched in 1958, hats off to Landrover for achieving this. Nothing can last for ever though.
It may go full circle one day, but that's not now, Landrover have done it before and are fully capable of doing it again when the time is right and it's profitable to do so.
The ultimate vehicle is one that does not corrode, wear resistant, is modular, and easily repairable, the technology exists now and has done for some time to produce such a vehicle. Basically much like the supermarket's green "Bag for Life" idea, you'd have a car for life, reusing is after all better then recycling, and both are better than replacing and throwing away. However world economy does not allow for such "Green" vehicles to exist as once the market is saturated and everyone has one there is no more business. Plus it's human nature to always push for new technology.
Are we going to have the same Defender type argument when internal combustion engines are replaced by electric or some other technology?