PistonHeads - Land Rover Matters...
Defender concept breaks recent records on the P.H. O'Meter
DC100 is scoring a 4.08 average...
Due to be unveiled at Frankfurt, but revealed in pictures yesterday, the Land Rover DC100 has already attracted more votes than any other poll on the P.H. O'Meter over the last six months - 1,242 respondents and counting - garnering an average score of just 4.07 out of 10. (At the time of writing, obviously...)
That's a big sample where 'focus groups' are concerned, and while the PH audience isn't necessarily representative of the world outside (well, some of us are a bit weird), to put that result into context the current Defender notched up a score of 8.7 when we added it to our long term fleet as a tow car for the PH Caterham racer.
...while the 'Cracker Car' scored 4.4
So where does this leave the DC100? Well maybe JLR shouldn't give up on it yet, because Kilometer magazine has independently commissioned a few rendered variations on the show car's theme - and here at PH Towers we think the mock-ups look pretty good, from their side elevations at least.
So could seeing a crew cab and 'station wagon' version be enough to turn the tide in the new concept's favour?
 Five-door rendered by KM magazine... |
 ...who've also done a double-cab |
Meanwhile, in case anyone is wondering, the next highest voter turnouts on the P.H. O'Meter in the last six months have been the PH Hero 205 GTI with 964 votes (scoring 8.83 out of 10), the Alfa Reveals 4C Concept article with 942 votes (scoring 8.88), the Lambo Aventador Revealed article with 866 votes (scoring 9.02), and the Singer 911 Picture Gallery with 833 votes (scoring 9.21).
In terms of top scorers, the results for the last six months look like this:
1st place - Scoring 9.39, the Mazda 787B Reunion - video (294 votes)
2nd place - Scoring 9.38, the Epic Mazda 787B Rides Again (444 votes)
3rd place - Scoring 9.35, Spotted: Ferrari F40 (616 votes)
Obviously all the above have been live on the site for varying time periods, so it's difficult to be too conclusive about the results. The biggest poll yet is 2,200 respondents for our Singer 'Re-Imagines' The Porsche 911 article, but that one has been collecting votes since Sept 2009.
Whilst I appreciate the design has to change for safety and environmental factors it has to remain Lego like in looks and construction.
I had a 90 for a good few years and I loved driving it, yes it was slow, it leaked and was somewhat drafty but there was no other experience like it.
Stef
I think the general opinion isnt that its ugly, in my opinion it has a very good design, if you're looking fore something like a rough evougue but we are talking about the Defender here! things like overhangs, rigidity, durability etc.. have to be at the highest of priorities. Design wise it must have the least trim as possible and 'DIY' bodywork, but mechanically I think it should remain solid axle, no nonsence gearbox and 300 TDi syle engine with limited electronics.
thw renderings look good, but its the defender! keep going at this pace and youll end up somwhere like, the Toyota land cruiser prado, the Nissan Patrol, The Mitsubishi Pajero etc.. Rough roaders, but nothing that wild like the Defender
(wonder what Prince Philip would look like on a set of 22's ???? ;-)
When you look up "British" in the Dictionary, it says See: Land Rover & Royal Family........
It will be, it's a Land Rover. It has to be able to be sold in the US market (no Defenders have been compliant since 1997) so it can't be anywhere near as basic as the existing car. The FJ cruiser is not a good comparison IMHO, it's utterly horrible to drive and looks awful.
(wonder what Prince Philip would look like on a set of 22's ???? ;-)
....he'd still look like a racist.....
Landrover should not be building a Defender to compete with other brands, the Defender should be the benchmark rugged 4x4.
I think the Defender should be simple and robust, a big bias towards off road capability, permanent AWD which uses a simple mechanical diff lock and low range, basic functional interior which can be easily cleaned. A working heater and none leaking when raining, electronics should be kept to a bare minimum.
Sadly I get the impression that it is not cost effective to build a car that can last 20 years with very little servicing and repaires ect going back to Landrover. The third party specalist market for Landrovers is so huge it could put them off designing a direct replacement as JLR see little of the long term profit. How many people with a 10 year old defender go to Landrover for servicing or parts? Specialist often have been quailty parts cheaper.
Everyone knows the current Defender is a flawed car, people who buy it know this and people will buy future models knowing they will be flawed if it turns out to be a dam good work horse. Sadly I think 'The Thick Of It' style focus groups could turn this into a base model no frills Freelander, and 60 years of heritage lost.
There's a good reason the original design has lasted so long.
As for the new defender. Big fat zero all the way I'm afraid. Shocking wheels and the styling is still far too Mini Countryman/Skoda for my liking. When you see a Defender on the road, you instantly know what it is. Its now in danger of looking like just another pumped up Euro box with no identity.
Steel wheel option
Steel bumpers
Simple interior
Simple construction - no bonded in windscreens
Hose-down interior
Modular construction
Few electric gizmos
Galvanised chassis
Manual window option
Better reliability
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