RE: New Defender Concept From Land Rover
Discussion
Hellbound said:
It's a concept that won't see the light of day. Definitely won't see 2015. A farmer wouldn't buy one of these with those wheels and tyres. They should have released images of one with a lift kit and fatter tyres and a shell with slightly smaller overhangs.
Either way, people hate change. Just improve the interior and mechanicals and keep churning out the same shape. Maybe add a few rounder edges.
my point exactly.. the new defender doesnt need a completly new shape! its 80 years old and still looks as fresh as a daizyEither way, people hate change. Just improve the interior and mechanicals and keep churning out the same shape. Maybe add a few rounder edges.
I should also remind people that the Defender is about how it attacks the brown stuff. Not about what it looks like. SO...as long as it's brilliant through dirt, rocks and water, who cares what it looks like. Take a peek at some of those older models, quite a few are plain pig ugly! If LR came out with something similar today, you'd vomit a little in your mouth.
Ah, but the magic about the current model (well actually the current models till some stupid designer stuck that hideous new front end on them....;-( is that they look so "right" even without beening excessively styled. The Basic proportions and lines, form following function just work, hence it doesn't need lots of fussy details and features to help it's "styling" along. The more i look at the new conecpt the more i see some promise however. Tone it down a bit, get rid of the excessive angles and unnecesary lines and it actually takes some quite nice que's from the current model.
The challange for the new model wil be meeting things like crash (particularly pedestrian) regs and being cheap enough to build. The current model, although simple is an absolute nightmare to build as i has so many fixings and fasteners etc (and hence the build tollerances and "quality" are difficult to maintain.
The challange for the new model wil be meeting things like crash (particularly pedestrian) regs and being cheap enough to build. The current model, although simple is an absolute nightmare to build as i has so many fixings and fasteners etc (and hence the build tollerances and "quality" are difficult to maintain.
badlands1 said:
grammalta said:
my point exactly.. the new defender doesnt need a completly new shape! its 80 years old and still looks as fresh as a daizy
63 years old. but good point mind, it still looks fresh.Perhaps the entire manufacturing set-up needs a rethink in order to cut costs, stream-line production and export to more markets around the world? I don't know. There has to be some logic to all of this...
varsas said:
Why does it have such big wheel arches? What's with those wheels? Presumably they have put those on because they look 'cool'.
They should have shown it with a boggo pair of steel wheels. It needs to look 'right' like that and also needs to be shown as such because that is how the vast majority are bought.varsas said:
Having said that, the 'new mini' was nothing like the proper one, erasing most things that made that what it was and that still did OK. Shame, really.
Thing with the Mini is 9and was) that it was never expected to be a workhorse. The Defender has earned a fantastic reputation - at home and abroad - for being a lightweight, no-nonsense 4x4. As time has progressed (from Td5) it's got a bit more electrickery and has lost some of it's grass-roots practicality, but is still a vehicle you can run on a shoestring and maintain in the bush.Any successful replacement needs to be at least as utilitarian and be as reliable as the (excellent) competition from Japan.
Max_Torque said:
The challange for the new model wil be meeting things like crash (particularly pedestrian) regs and being cheap enough to build. The current model, although simple is an absolute nightmare to build as i has so many fixings and fasteners etc (and hence the build tollerances and "quality" are difficult to maintain.
So there you go. Something had to be done. The model is no longer commercially viable. :Ojust another fashion item, nothing utilitarian or purposful with that. which spice girl worked on this one?
it just looks childish with those 24inch wheels. the side view is very similar to a ford bronco and the general volume reminds of a Kia Soul.
http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2004/2004-Ford-B...
it really lacks inspiration.
it just looks childish with those 24inch wheels. the side view is very similar to a ford bronco and the general volume reminds of a Kia Soul.
http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2004/2004-Ford-B...
it really lacks inspiration.
DS240 said:
How long does everyone expect the defender in current state to go on for?
Forever I guess!!! It takes a lot of careful thought to replace an icon and when that icon has been the backbone of working country folk and armed forces throughout the world, a tarted up toy isn't going to cut the mustard (and I mean traditional Colman's English please).You can't really replace the Defender/90/110 - but then, do you really need to?
I think the main issue is they had a DESIGN BRIEF... it should have been an ENGINEERING BRIEF..
Narrow
wash out able interior
Option with NO electronics or make them removable for when they break
I quite like the look above but the front needs a more solid under body protection(probably banned now) and the rear quarter wrap around glass looks expensive.
I just hope the interior DOES NOT have a big console and is open with a utilitarian functionality.
Narrow
wash out able interior
Option with NO electronics or make them removable for when they break
I quite like the look above but the front needs a more solid under body protection(probably banned now) and the rear quarter wrap around glass looks expensive.
I just hope the interior DOES NOT have a big console and is open with a utilitarian functionality.
cookie1600 said:
Forever I guess!!! It takes a lot of careful thought to replace an icon and when that icon has been the backbone of working country folk and armed forces throughout the world, a tarted up toy isn't going to cut the mustard (and I mean traditional Colman's English please).
You can't really replace the Defender/90/110 - but then, do you really need to?
Precisely! I think a lot of comments regarding 'sales' etc come from a city-centric/suburban perspective. In the countryside they pretty much keep the country running.You can't really replace the Defender/90/110 - but then, do you really need to?
thinfourth2 said:
The defender will become the model under the freelander
No it won't - they won't kill off their flagship. However, it's going to be really difficult to replace the car and maintain its credentials. I await the response (from Land Rover and Twincam) with baited breath. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff