automobile mag says defender is back the USA in 2010

[montoya]

Automobile mag regularly has a summary of what's coming down the pipe for any given car company. This month it's Land Rover. The 2010 defender will be based on the current LR3 platform. Wish I had the mag in front of me but there were no other significant details for the defender. I subscribe to three car mags and this is the first time I've read of a definate release date for the defender. No pics.

 

[dmarchand]

Lies. You should dump that magazine.

 

[montoya]

I've tried and actually did at one point but I kept getting cheap offers to renew. I finally gave in at $9/yr. It's a nice break from stacks of junkmail.

Their reports it the past have been pretty accurate. A 2010 LR3 based defender isn't that far fetched.

 

[EricSiepmann]

Uh Huh.

The next logical question is who would want an LR3 based Defender? I was impressed by what the LR3 could do once I saw it, but still had to pull it from a small mud hole with my D-90.

EwS

 

[montoya]

Can't avoid platform sharing these days.

 

[montoya]

i'm just re-reading it now . . .

It doesn't promise a return to the US, just a whole new Defender. Here's what it reads . . . "A new Defender launches in 2010, and since it will be based on the LR3's T5 platform, chances are good we'll get Land Rover's most hard-core product here".

Other plans include a new Freelander based the European Ford Focus with a Volvo supplied engine due in 2007. A front wheel driver Freelander comes in 2008, doh! All new Range Rover in 2009.

 

[flippedrover]

Might want to check out this thread on D-90.com www.d-90.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4938

 

[stu454]

As I noted in another forum, I'll be quite happy fixing up old 110s and 90s when the 25 year cutoff is reached soon.

 

[montoya]

Ford's still digesting the cost of the acquiring the new Range Rover and developing the LR3. Now here comes the all new Range Rover Sport which is also based on the LR3 platform, not the current Range Rover. I think they are more concerned about introducing a new Defender starting at $35k that would take sales away from all these brand new high priced models. Introducing the Defender in 2010 is just long enough to profit from existing models and allow them to age. I think that's the real reason. A new $35k LR3 based Defender would be a big hit.

 

[Timmy!!!!!!!]

Just as long as they keep solid axles on the defender. I really do not wanna see air suspension. I am really really tired of seeing the increase of ifs and irs on SUVs.

 

[Gore Ranger]

I have done a fair amount of web searching also, and there are several seemingly reputable sources which are saying the Defender will be back in the US in 2007 as a 2008 model.

Check out these two links: One is MotorTrend and one is direct from Atlantic British's website

http://www.motortrend.com/future/spied/112_2008fvf/index2.html
http://www.roverparts.com/Vehicle_Reviews_LR_Defender_2007.html

Sure it will look different than the 90s Defenders no doubt. But look at the aesthetic differences between the RRC and the newest 2003 Rangie. I have two RRc and they are awesome, but I also think the newest Rangie looks great., albeit really expensive! The two Rangie's have changed drastically, but they are both awesome in their own unique way and they serve different purposes.

From the article on AB, it seems like when they return, you will have numerous options, like buying a manual softtop with as few add ons as possible. That's probably what I will do, as I already have two RRCs to take wheeling. I would get a Defender as a summer topless beach and around town cruiser so therefore a new one to me would make a lot more sense than a 10+ year old truck that costs more now than it did when it was sold new.

The laws of economics dictate that when the new models arrive, the old Defenders price will plummet fast. Sure there are people who would rather have a "collector's edition" model from the 90's (the type of people on this board no doubt), but many people who own them (think the Martha's Vineyard, Hamptons crowd) will immediately trade up to the newer one and the market will be glutted with 90s models. Simple supply and demand.

I hope the rumors are true. Does anyone out there have any substantiated information regarding a 2007/2008 Defender in the US??

 

[JeffM]

Oh well - guess I won't be giving Land Rover any money for a new defender. I'm going to be in the 'fix the 25 year old ones camp'. If my mrs decides she really can't do without a new truck .... Looks like it will have to be a jeep - with any luck they'll see the market opening and bring out a genuine long wheelbase wrangler with the TDi in it rather than the current "lame" unlimited.

Must admit I got the impression from the Last "stealership" I went into (Land Rover Edmonton) - that they were completely abandoning everything that made Land Rovers what they were.

Sad to see how Land Rover is abandoning its roots and becoming just another car company.

Jeff

 

[antichrist]

snip
A front wheel driver Freelander comes in 2008, doh!
snip

Ugh...the beginning of the end for Land Rover.

 

[rover4x4]

the begining of the end was a while back.

 

[JeffM]

Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.

Winston Churchill (1943)

 

[AndyThoma]

Just to throw out an idea. If all us(americans) want a 25 year old defender what do you suppose will happen to the cost of those "antique" trucks? Will it be cheap or are we going to see 25year old rust buckets costing $25K?

 

[EricSiepmann]

Well. look at the Series market. 40 year old rust buckets start at 2k for parts and average 10k for a workable refurbishment.

They'll command a good price.

 

[MarkP]

I was impressed by what the LR3 could do once I saw it, but still had to pull it from a small mud hole with my D-90.

Stuck in the mud sounds similar to the Range Rover 3 intro in Australia Probably has something to do with the highway tires the new vehicles come with but I also think there are situations the Land Rover off-road "system" doesn't work. This is where they need to add a "all auto systems off, air suspension simulate solid axle" mode.

 

[peter]

i?m sure the new defender will have IFS all around.

 

[Pugsly]

No Defender for US Market

?Defender production to continue indefinitely? - LR MD

Land Rover managing director Matthew Taylor has told the US consumer website www.thecarconnection.com that there will not be a new version of the Defender to meet collision regulations. Land Rover had been working on a replacement, but the production level of 25,000 per year did not justify the investment. However, he also said that production of the Defender would carry on indefinitely, as cost reduction moves had made it profitable to continue production at this present level (it was probably the most labour intensive vehicle to come out of a Western factory).

He said that the company?s new Freelander compact SUV, to be made in the Halewood factory currently (under) used by Jaguar for the X-Type, will be launched in a year?s time in Europe, and around mid-2006 in the US market.

And he suggested that the Range Rover could get a V12 engine from the Aston Martin. Given that the latest supercharged V8 produces 390 bhp, one assumes the V12 would have to produce around 450 bhp to justify the extra cost.