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The Defender and Series were around a very long time. To define the Defender is very easy. It is self evident, by the market it served, the engineers intentions, the way it was advertised, and established customer expectations. The name has meaning, properties, definition. Call it what you will...

Forrest service and BLM roads here routinely push the limits of articulation and low-speed traction. Solid axle vehicles perform very well. The LR3 had a hard time keep all-four on the ground and would rock and fall, as you'll witness in videos of them in cross-axle scenarios when they tip over...

It's a great idea, but the compromise is expense, complexity, reliablity, and capability because it doesn't articulate or maintain contact patch pressure nearly as well as what it seeks to emulate. It's perfect for a Range Rover, but not for a Defender. They are polar opposites of the lineup, or...

How is "simple, utilitarian, capable" weird? What's weird is presenting a product that suddenly changes purpose and demographics completely, and instead of giving it a new model name, appropriate one that is well established and understood. Must we inform engineers choosing solid axles for...

It does matter. It can be accomplished in many ways and all of them have consequences to the buyer, and are either fitting to purpose, or not. It's not controversial. It's either the correct compromise, that matches the vehicle's purpose, or it's not. As slow as possible, as fast as necessary...

Yes, this discussion is fractured. Let's refocus. Solid axles and IS can both be engineered to carry any amount of payload, but with different compromises involved. The Defender, by definition (which we should understand by now) is supposed to choose the contemporary, simple, easily maintained...

You don't seem to get it. Try asking yourself why the vast majority of utilitarian vehicles use some combination of leaf springs, coil springs, solid axles, airbags as helpers, and/or body-on-frame construction? Because they work, engineers know they work, and buyers know they work. Then...

Here's an example.. While the YJ and Defender co-existed and appeared very similar in form and function, the Defender frame and axles were stronger, allowing higher towing and payload capacity as well as increased work-horse durability. Another... The TJ moved to a very similar suspension design...

I agree. However, the issue is that the luxury Defender, by definition is an oxymoron.

That's fine, and why with a modular platform you could be offered the hard-top option, and those in warmer climate can enjoy a rag-top model. Correct, it can't carry more than is typically needed for fun, quality is decent now in the JL, but not excellent, and yes it is a toy; that's the point...

... and a less complicated and better built vehicle. I'd take a utilitarian SUV with a trailer as well, but they don't exist anymore. The Bronco might change that. We'll see. Not quite. My position is that how we see them used is telling. It's telling of where the market finds them useful or...

First the Wrangler somehow isn't the at the top of off-road capability, and now maybe it is, but it's unnecessary.

My F150 is rated to tow 13,200lbs with a 3,230lb payload, but we're way off topic. Of course luxury and function are capable, but don't pretend there's isn't a compromise. There always is. If there wasn't, modern Land Rovers would be taking a bite out of the Jeep and truck market, but they...

Then the Disco 5 should fit your needs. That's the definition of the Discovery from day 1. Instead, it's become a pseudo-RR and the Defender name got appropriated to fill the gap. I don't want a smaller light duty toy. I want the slightly larger, more capable, more interesting, more modular...

What ended my LR3 relationship? Multiple cooling line failure, multiple air suspension component failure, interior falling apart, transfer case controller failure, transmission failure. I was done with it. Besides that, it was a pain fitting off-road worthy tires (not large, just durable) and...

You're way off base. My stock, unlifted F150 is far from any brodozer, but it is far more reliable, durable, and utilitarian than any modern LR product. We can carry large items, or material like mulch, trees, etc; carry the kids in comfort and safety, drive through mountains and snow, and tow...

Behind who and when? In 1990 ("decades ago") its competition was the YJ and TJ, both far inferior (I've owned all of them), G-wagen, and Land Cruiser, among other small Japanese 4x4s. While the LC and G-wagen were more reliable, they were less capable. Yes the G-wagen has lockers, but it can't...

I can agree that it's going to be a great vehicle, but we'll have to agree to disagree that it's a Defender.

Here in the PNW, there's very little rock crawling. It's mostly dirt, mountains, light snow, and ruts. A stock Defender would be perfect here, which is why I have one. I'd really like a modern one though. Again, the luxury Defender isn't it though. The Wrangler/Gladiator is closest, but yet so...

You specifically said LR3/4/5