2020 Defender Spy Shots....
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REDROVER
Explorer
It’s basically a discovery with different body, even though Land Rover says it’s not,
Nothing wrong with that, old defender had pretty much same parts as discovery.
jalopnik.com
Nothing wrong with that, old defender had pretty much same parts as discovery.
What I Found When I Crawled Under The 2020 Land Rover Defender
I just crawled under the 2020 Land Rover Defender—the unibody, independent suspension-equipped successor to a legendary body-on-frame, solid-axle off-roader.
jalopnik.com
catmann
Active member
What you are not seeing yet is that the new systems will be able to see failure symptoms in advance, use the new global satellite systems being set up in space, and pretty much have Amazon send a drone with the needed parts/tools in no time. It's not the Jestsons yet, but it's not really that far off either! ?
Thorsten
New member
Jalopnik said:What I saw didn’t appear to be an SUV built on a special off-road platform, but rather a machine quite similar to other vehicles in the Land Rover lineup.
What I Found When I Crawled Under The 2020 Land Rover Defender
I just crawled under the 2020 Land Rover Defender—the unibody, independent suspension-equipped successor to a legendary body-on-frame, solid-axle off-roader.
Was about to post this myself, @REDROVER . Probably the best recent LR for adventures by a good margin, but they should have made it the new Discovery. Under the skin, that's really what its DNA is.
treckin
Member
I have the to agree with the “should have been the D5” argument, because I am actually optimistic about this particular vehicle now but I don’t think they should have moved the Defender branding to independent suspension.
In my mind this was a marketing/product team fail as they now lost the ability to do a new solid axle bush vehicle under the Defender branding that would have sold like crazy and not cannibalized sales from the independent suspension Discovery lineup.
There’s a place at Land Rover for both platforms, not sure why they merged them, essentially.
Even if they couldn’t afford to maintain both lineups, they could have reserved the Defender branding for another solid axle vehicle.
I’m interested in it, regardless of the badging.
In my mind this was a marketing/product team fail as they now lost the ability to do a new solid axle bush vehicle under the Defender branding that would have sold like crazy and not cannibalized sales from the independent suspension Discovery lineup.
There’s a place at Land Rover for both platforms, not sure why they merged them, essentially.
Even if they couldn’t afford to maintain both lineups, they could have reserved the Defender branding for another solid axle vehicle.
I’m interested in it, regardless of the badging.
Victory_Overland
Explorer
I'll say it again; when someone shows me a petrol LR getting more than 12mpg at full gross weight on a trail (AVERAGE) I'll believe it. Until then, the only way this 4 banger Petrol Defender becomes somewhat legit for purchase/range is maybe in the lighter D90; assuming the gas tank is the same size from 90/110.
Nobody is arguing the fact that petrol engines are making as much low/mid/high end torque peaks; the problem is, those high HP petrol engines are doing it at a much less efficient manner than diesels when it comes to fuel consumption.
Love the Defender; hate the fact that its range is garbage and WILL require extra fuel on board in some fashion in ANY austere environment. The only possible way to change this design flaw is by offering a much more efficient diesel option or auxiliary tank.
I will admit, just about every NAS spec vehicle is suffering the same problem; Toyota, Jeep, Ford! Just saying, JLR had the chance to stretch the legs on this think as the "Explorer" badge says and they missed the mark completely. Honestly, the hybrid version will be the best bet for the future with electric power at low end with dynamic braking recharge; yeah, I said it!
Nobody is arguing the fact that petrol engines are making as much low/mid/high end torque peaks; the problem is, those high HP petrol engines are doing it at a much less efficient manner than diesels when it comes to fuel consumption.
Love the Defender; hate the fact that its range is garbage and WILL require extra fuel on board in some fashion in ANY austere environment. The only possible way to change this design flaw is by offering a much more efficient diesel option or auxiliary tank.
I will admit, just about every NAS spec vehicle is suffering the same problem; Toyota, Jeep, Ford! Just saying, JLR had the chance to stretch the legs on this think as the "Explorer" badge says and they missed the mark completely. Honestly, the hybrid version will be the best bet for the future with electric power at low end with dynamic braking recharge; yeah, I said it!
Wow that's a really good article. I must admit I am a bit disappointed. I did not expect it to be that close to the Discovery. It makes the $80k price tag a bit harder to swallow.
jalopnik.com
What I Found When I Crawled Under The 2020 Land Rover Defender
I just crawled under the 2020 Land Rover Defender—the unibody, independent suspension-equipped successor to a legendary body-on-frame, solid-axle off-roader.
jalopnik.com
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DieselRanger
Well-known member
True, and unfortunately our intellectual superiors in the Democratic People's Republic of California are on a mission to ban diesels from our roads, so I guess we're going to have to accept mild hybrids and KERS to get the performance we used to get from a diesel. But at least we will be used to the fuel prices because they all run on premium fuel....
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DieselRanger
Well-known member
No, they quite clearly state it's built on the same platform as the Disco. The electronic systems have been updated, and the monocoque is significantly stiffer, and the interior is completely different, and it looks different and comes with different options and can take larger tires and can do better off-road right off the lot, but yes, it's basically the same thing. Such is the way of things in world auto platforms these days.It’s basically a discovery with different body, even though Land Rover says it’s not,
Nothing wrong with that, old defender had pretty much same parts as discovery.
What I Found When I Crawled Under The 2020 Land Rover Defender
I just crawled under the 2020 Land Rover Defender—the unibody, independent suspension-equipped successor to a legendary body-on-frame, solid-axle off-roader.
The Disco was always more of an all-around daily driver that can overland when you want to, and go on 90% of the roads in the world. Still is. The Defender was always the technical off-roader that could be your expedition vehicle or weekend warrior trail basher. Still is. Except now it's much, much nicer to drive, safer, and more durable than the old Defender, and it's more capable off the lot than the old Defender.
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Victory_Overland
Explorer
I wonder if that fibrous belly panel stuff is for the Urban Version only; LR can't be that off kilter to use that as primary protection so I'm saying it is for the show vehicles or Urban version. Aftermarket will make the right stuff anyway but would be nice to at least have steel under there as OEM for cheap out of the box and if we want lighter, we pay for it. But to offer no underbody protection; that can't be right!
calicamper
Expedition Leader
Well if premium fuel cost is a worry then Rover anything isn’t in the budget. LOL
DieselRanger
Well-known member
Keep in mind that Land Rover must get the vehicles certified for fuel economy and emissions. Metal belly pans are heavy, which reduces fuel economy. Also, metal bellies are loud and ringy as highway noise and associated road imperfections pass under the vehicle...NVH is a significant perception issue for many drivers. If it costs $75k and sounds like a $25k used Jeep, auto journalists will complain and then buyers will feel like they're not getting their money's worth.
As noted, a front skid plate is offered as an option, but that's not how they will certify them, nor how potential buyers will test drive them.
The aftermarket will respond as Lucky8 has with trail armor, and it's also difficult to see what's under those plastic/fiber belly pans, so there may be more protection for critical bits there.
My D5 has a fairly thick aluminum skid plate past the downpipe...I didn't order it that way, it just came that way. Maybe I got a freebie...it's taken a few hits.
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DieselRanger
Well-known member
It's clearly not because diesel is the same or more than premium in most US markets.
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