Next Generation Defender must be "more desirable to look at"

[Eniam17]

My next new Land Rover may just say Jeep on the bonnet.


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What about an older G-Wagen? I think they are cool

 

[EricTyrrell]

Rover started going to **** after the Series IIa, the last Rover made for men. Plastics and over-complicated electronics began creeping in with the Series III and it was a downhill slide from there. Now the world's full of grande late soccer moms, magic-traction-button pansies looking to advertise their financial status, and put-everyone-in-a-bubble safety laws. The world changed and LR was forced to follow. We have no one to blame but ourselves, our sissy-*** selves.

 

[Eniam17]

Rover started going to **** after the Series IIa, the last Rover made for men. Plastics and over-complicated electronics began creeping in with the Series III and it was a downhill slide from there. Now the world's full of grande late soccer moms, magic-traction-button pansies looking to advertise their financial status, and put-everyone-in-a-bubble safety laws. The world changed and LR was forced to follow. We have no one to blame but ourselves, our sissy-*** selves.

While I happen to be someone who owns and likes 3 rovers built well after the Series III, and I am none of what you suggest in your description of people who own them; you hit the nail on the head with "world changed and LR was forced to follow." They can't stay in business as a viable worldwide vehicle manufacturer making rugged boxes on wheels like they made 50 years ago, no matter how many of us wish they could.

 

[Bhos]

Toyota seems to being doing well with its LC 78 series. LR just doesn't want to be in the utility market. My LR4 would be gone in less than a heartbeat for a rugged/utility D110 remake. Of course, the same goes for a modern LC 78.

While I happen to be someone who owns and likes 3 rovers built well after the Series III, and I am none of what you suggest in your description of people who own them; you hit the nail on the head with "world changed and LR was forced to follow." They can't stay in business as a viable worldwide vehicle manufacturer making rugged boxes on wheels like they made 50 years ago, no matter how many of us wish they could.

 

[David Harris]

Toyota seems to being doing well with its LC 78 series. LR just doesn't want to be in the utility market. My LR4 would be gone in less than a heartbeat for a rugged/utility D110 remake. Of course, the same goes for a modern LC 78.

The Land Cruiser 70 series is being discontinued as well.

 

[Eniam17]

Right, Toyota is a brand that has chosen to be all things to all people which isn't what JLR has ever done, and probably never will do.

 

[axels]

While I happen to be someone who owns and likes 3 rovers built well after the Series III, and I am none of what you suggest in your description of people who own them; you hit the nail on the head with "world changed and LR was forced to follow." They can't stay in business as a viable worldwide vehicle manufacturer making rugged boxes on wheels like they made 50 years ago, no matter how many of us wish they could.

Thank you for saying this.
I had a feeling that most people on this thread were longing for the 50s/60s.
I also believe that JLR has to Make changes to its line up, not just to keep afloat and please a few but also to follow the new regulations as far as pollution and safety.

I do believe that they will keep a pretty rugged vehicle in their lineup as they know that it's working for Jeep with the Wrangler.

The looks might change a little (or a lot) but the next "Defender" will be at least as capable as the old one if not more.

As time goes by we will be able to import 25+ years old Defenders and keep the nostalgia going I'm not worried.

As for me, I currently drive a LR4 which indeed is "too" luxurious for an off-road vehicle and has lots of electronics but to be frank most of my time (sadly) is spent in the city and on the freeway (sometimes fortunately to go off-roading).

I think that we should all be confident that Land Rover will not give up on its base customers and offer them a suitable vehicle.

 

[roverandom]

Not many folks wheel a $50K vehicle.
They could make the new Defender resemble the old one stylistically. They just don't want to.

The real problem is that they see a need to have the new unit "Designed". Land Rovers most important vehicles were all created by real engineers. Not guys wearing purple silk shirts and cuff links.



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[Antichrist]

The current Defender has never sold on its design....

The guy is a liar or utter fool.
They sold exactly because of their design. They were designed to be versatile. I don't think Land Rover even knows what "versatile" means anymore. Their idea of versatile means driving it to the club or to the ski slopes.

 

[pugslyyy]

Not many folks wheel a $50K vehicle.
They could make the new Defender resemble the old one stylistically. They just don't want to.

The real problem is that they see a need to have the new unit "Designed". Land Rovers most important vehicles were all created by real engineers. Not guys wearing purple silk shirts and cuff links.



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Back when the Land Rover was designed, I'm pretty sure that the engineers would have been wearing cuff links. Buttons are a fairly new innovation - cheaper and mass produced.

All joking aside, I'm pretty sure that they will pull styling cues from the Defender Classic, just like they did from the RRC.

Land Rover got to where they are by leading not following, and after being shackled to this old design for many years they have the chance to make a leap to the front of the pack again. You only need to look at the success of the Hilux and TLC - that used to be the Series/Defender market but they lost it.

 

[roverandom]

As I'm sure you know, Rover made very nice luxury vehicles after the war. But they were expensive. Land Rover started by copying a WWII jeep. They out sold the Rover car within a couple of years of coming to market.

Today Land Rover makes very nice luxury vehicles........



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[Red90]

This is a good idea in theory, but it's what I was getting at above. Jeep is a mass produced, volume oriented brand selling to all kinds of demographics all over the world. LR is not trying to be all things to all people. They aren't targeting the young guy with a reasonable job who has 25k to spend on a vehicle, regardless of if we like that decision or not. When their "cheapest" crossover (LR2) starts at over 40k, that should be telling us something.

They aren't, but they could be... They could be selling hundreds of thousands per year, if they wanted...

 

[Oilworker]

So, what would you be willing to spend on a US road legal, brand new, Defender?
A Defender that also looks like a Defender and not like a "soap box" on wheels

 

[Eniam17]

I don't buy vehicles new because I can't stand the deprecation. But in terms of the price point, given that a Wrangler Rubicon w/ leather seats is close to 50k I would have no issues with the Defender being similarly priced or a little higher. 45-55k +/-

 

[roverandom]

I would love to see a meat and potatoes Defender starting at $27-28K. A fully optioned show boat no more than $40K.
Most important would be the ability to choose options a-la-carte. I hate it when the OEM's group useful options with all the luxury crap. I want to pick and choose. If LR did that, I would buy a new one.


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