I think the management at Land Rover have completely lost the plot. What makes the Defender continue to be popular is that is completely different from the rest of their range, but its popularity deminishes the more complex it becomes. It's losing its character as well as its flexibility, repairability and affordability. Making its successor similar in complexity, appearance and cost to the rest of the range will kill it stone dead.
As for the suggestion that LR should be building the Ford Bronco, that makes no sense either. While LR have bought-in engines frequently, the original 1.6 and 2.6 having been Rover engines, the V8s also coming from Rover but originating in Buick, and the P38s having BMW engines, making the current Ford unit nothing unusual, LR have never licence built whole vehicles. The Bronco will be a hopelessly heavy platform of proportions ill-suited to anywhere but the US. Its looks certainly would only appeal in the US. The Bronco is fine for its target market, but it would be ridiculous for LR to rebadge it and try to sell it to the rest of the world; if it was any good, Ford would already be exporting it.
The solution is dead simple. Continue with the Defender as is, stripped of unnecessary complexities, and give the occupants more space by simply installing seat rails similar to those from Mudstuff.co.uk to sort out the comfort issue, reinforced A and B pillars and a steel windscreen frame for the safety issue and UK MoD spec tilt hoops for rag tops. If it's too expensive because of the hand-built nature, then shift assembly to India; they'll probably be able to build them better as well as cheaper. Most Defender users are happy with all the characteristics except quality - fix that and stop tinkering with everything else!
