New Defender in the Wild

[unrepentant]

I had a chance to drive the new Defender and play with it for a couple of days in Palm Springs, CA last week. It was terrific off road, which we knew it would be but it was also great on road. Quiet, smooth, fast and comfortable. And the new PIVI system worked well. Another winner from Gerry McGovern and his team.

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

Sorry... I just see a disco in those pics... With homage defender lights.

Glad it goes well though... Fingers crossed JLR have a hit on their hands.

[unrepentant]

take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:

Sorry... I just see a disco in those pics... With homage defender lights.

Glad it goes well though... Fingers crossed JLR have a hit on their hands.

Actually feels nothing like a Disco. New platform is longer, rear seat very comfy and felt more spacious than an L405. Styling is purposeful, it will sell to a lot of people who preferred the looks of the D4 to the D5. It's already a hit, order books are jammed. A lot of dealers here in the US have more orders than they will get cars for the next 12 months.

[take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey]

I think LR dropped the ball with the d5 styling. I know a few folks who have hung on to their d4 longer than they would have due to the awkward d5 rear styling.

The new defender will steal sales from it. Having two models competing for the same market segment can't be good for profitability.

[Cfnteabag]

I don't really understand that idea,if you have 2 vehicles that are appealing to the same customers does that not increase your sales as they are twice as likely to by a Land Rover?

I love the look of the new Defender and would love one but after having a look at the configurator, to get one in the spec I need, without even going silly on options, it was almost as much as my mortgage a month!

[Andeh1]

Aaaah this thread should follow a predictable path from those frothy at the gills over the AUDACITY of Land Rover to follow the regulations, crash safety, aerodynamics, ergonomics, weight reduction, pedestrian impact, Thatcham, comfort, corporate styling, sales & market desires BECAUSE THE FARMERS & ENTHUSIASTS want a 20p ladder chassis'd tonka truck from the 80s.

Looks great, will be market leader off road, ace on road, eminently practical for the family, premium and stand out from the usual mundane German uber-SUVs. Not sure I like the interior styling though, dashboard is a too basic & clunky for me, vs d5...

Edit:
I do echo the thoughts about the overlap with the d5, I hope their internal teams did the math. I guess one is more mature family vehicle vs younger/adventure family styling?

Edited by Andeh1 on Monday 20th January 21:15

[ZOLLAR]

Love it, great pictures OP.

[595Heaven]

I’m doing the same this weekend, but at a very foggy Eastnor Castle.



A night drive around the very gloopy forest tracks was a very memorable experience

[unrepentant]

595Heaven said:

I’m doing the same this weekend, but at a very foggy Eastnor Castle.



A night drive around the very gloopy forest tracks was a very memorable experience

Fun. That's a LR experience centre isn't it? I've done the track at Solihull and the experience center at the Biltmore in NC but I haven't been to Eastnor.

When the Disco Sport was launched they built a course at the Ritz Carlton Reynolds Plantation resort in Georgia. That was epic but they needed the two old Defenders they had on hand to tow out the German competitors cars that kept getting stuck.

[595Heaven]

unrepentant said:

Fun. That's a LR experience centre isn't it? I've done the track at Solihull and the experience center at the Biltmore in NC but I haven't been to Eastnor.

Yes, the main UK Land Rover Experience Centre operates from Eastnor Castle. We also use the woodland around the grounds (over 60 miles of tracks!) for testing and development work.

Great event, and a brilliant vehicle.

[Trevor555]

These look great.

And I bet they drive 101 times better than the old Defender.

[595Heaven]

Trevor555 said:

These look great.

And I bet they drive 101 times better than the old Defender.

They do look great, both inside and out. There are some great design features all around the car.

As for driving impressions, I’m afraid these are subject to embargo for a little while longer...

[oop north]

595Heaven said:

I’m doing the same this weekend, but at a very foggy Eastnor Castle.



A night drive around the very gloopy forest tracks was a very memorable experience

Looks a bit “doggy” to me

[unrepentant]

595Heaven said:

Trevor555 said:

These look great.

And I bet they drive 101 times better than the old Defender.

They do look great, both inside and out. There are some great design features all around the car.

As for driving impressions, I’m afraid these are subject to embargo for a little while longer...

JLRNA haven't put any embargo on us. It's frickin awesome to drive and incredible off road!

[scottydoesntknow]

Cracking pics OP, thanks for sharing :-)

[595Heaven]

oop north said:

Looks a bit “doggy” to me

[595Heaven]

unrepentant said:

It's frickin awesome to drive and incredible off road!

[anonymous-user]

Andeh1 said:

Aaaah this thread should follow a predictable path from those frothy at the gills over the AUDACITY of Land Rover to follow the regulations, crash safety, aerodynamics, ergonomics, weight reduction, pedestrian impact, Thatcham, comfort, corporate styling, sales & market desires BECAUSE THE FARMERS & ENTHUSIASTS want a 20p ladder chassis'd tonka truck from the 80s.

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 20th January 21:15

I'm amazed one of the 'one life, live it' brigade haven't jumped on this thread yet, 'I'd rather stick with my 110 so I can fix it with a hammer at weekends' etc.

[BigBazza]

The hatred from the "old school" Defender lot is moronic. I'm a D4 owner (follwing a D2, D3 and an earlier D4) and I also have a 1986 90 V8 which is original (scruffy) and I love them all.
Couldn't live with the look of the D5 so stuck hold of my D4 a little while longer and placed an order for a first edition 110 hopefully being delivered in March/April.
Comparing the price of the new Defender against old simply doesnt work, its not apples and apples. I'm getting a lovely spec Defender for less than a similar spec D5 and about the same as my D4 was new. Thats exactly where the pricing should be IMO.
Can't wait to take delivery!!

[Olas]

Lightweight V8 or go home.