2020 Defender

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
Never liked the Hope strategy yet hoping you’re correct.

I'm not really hoping, but I knew all that cladding was really doing a good job of hiding those lines. Now that I see them, I actually like it.

The front end will probably be a bit "challenging", though. If they can keep it from looking stupid while still integrating their current design language, it'll be a good looking vehicle. It just can't look like those concepts and renders all over the net that make the damned thing look like a Smart Roadster.

So far, the more of that camo they take off, the better it looks. The thing is going to stand out one way or another. This isn't going to be a D5 situation, at the very least.

Cheers,

Kennith
 
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ERover82

Well-known member
Nov 26, 2011
3,899
450
Darien Gap

079eb56bc460e12ee552e32a435f462a.jpg
 
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kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
a new system called launch control could be what your noticing.

Why would it need that? I can think of some uses if I really work at it and stretch practicality, but unless it's just something that came with the platform they're using, it seems a bit of an odd choice. It's not as if it doesn't have everything it needs to do it, but it's strange.

Perhaps they're using it to ease the first bite at a climb or sandy stuff? I suppose launch control doesn't need to be about zero to sixty times. The whole point is a clean, smooth, consistent launch I guess.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,706
1,015
Northern Illinois
Who knows why rich people like all the latest coolest technology. It's like cruise control kind of. It controls everything, including throttle till like 15 or 20 mph. So if you had to go up a slight grade that was a sheet of ice, I think the truck would do it itself. No driver skill needed.
 

Blueboy

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
3,205
459
Back in the USA; Rockwood, PA
Who knows why rich people like all the latest coolest technology. It's like cruise control kind of. It controls everything, including throttle till like 15 or 20 mph. So if you had to go up a slight grade that was a sheet of ice, I think the truck would do it itself. No driver skill needed.

Hilarious!!

Looking forward to seeing that cluster fuck as there are many days here when the roads are literally total ice.

Nothing moves unless of course your either chained or at least studded on all 4 tires.

I can only imagine the sales pitch and the resultant crashed vehicles coming in from folks listening to the bs.
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
We are long past that point. The barn door opened with the introduction of Hill Descent Control on the Freelander and the horses ran out from there.

Well, we can't exactly pretend Land Rover hasn't lived on the razor's edge of potential and technology for a very long time. It wouldn't be a big deal if they'd manage to stop cutting themselves on it.

I've only used HDC a couple of times in the DII, and while I can again see potential uses, I don't see what the big deal is beyond proving they can use the brakes intelligently for a simplistic form of autonomous driving. To be fair, that was actually quite a leap in thought in the segment.

This is a company who brought the first autostereoscopic display to the masses in a practical application; and used it for shits and giggles on a feature Doug Demuro probably didn't even notice. If Land Rover could have afforded to build this vehicle thirty years ago, they would have.

Their focus on technology isn't new. It's just something that took them a long time to develop with a lot of false starts; but they've always stuck with it.

Every single step from 1948 to present hasn't involved asking what people need; it's all been about asking what people can use. Land Rover is not a "traditional" company that's about solid axles and leaf springs. They have always tried to make vehicles that pushed those limits. They just really, really suck at communicating what they are.

I'm not saying I like everything they develop, but the fact is this has been their focus since the very beginning.

Cheers,

Kennith
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
I'm really interested to see what they did with the interior. That's going to be a big deal, because it's got to have some manner of competitive utility.

It seems to still have that tiny rear door, though. I'm not sure I'd have kept that...

Cheers,

Kennith
 

kennith

Well-known member
Apr 22, 2004
10,891
172
North Carolina
That protrusion at the top of the B pillar is right where your head goes.
No rear seat leg room.
How about a functional arm rest on the front passenger door?

Heh, what does it matter? I'm frequently hitting my head on the seat belt thing and B pillar, anyway, and I'm 5'7".

That protrusion is probably an airbag, and worrying about rear comfort has ruined a lot of SUVs. Shove the seats back, and you either remove cargo area or extend the wheelbase. Those seven row seats everyone wants get in the way, too. I mean, get a fucking van if you need seven seats. No SUV really wears them well.

There's probably meant to be an arm rest under that sheet on the door. The picture is at a bit of a strange angle.

Cheers,

Kennith