| Author | Message | ||
     Matthew D. Shearin (Chuee) New Member Username: Chuee Post Number: 18 Registered: 03-2003 |
If this is even being considered the end of the world is coming. Look at the article "Message to Ford" http://www.thelandroverchronicle.com/new_page_431.htm | ||
| Zin Head (Zinhead) New Member Username: Zinhead Post Number: 24 Registered: 12-2001 |
I don't see what the big deal is. It's a given that next generation Defender will share it's chassis with the 05 Disco so the Defender will go down the independent suspension path anyway. If selling a cheaper version as a Ford makes the vehicle more likely to be sold in the US, bring on the Bronco. Maybe you don't remember, but the first generation Bronco was a true off roader with solid axles at both ends and roughly the same size as a D90. Hopefully, combined Bronco/Defender sales would be enough to allow solid axles versions that most people on this board want. As an aside, anyone notice that the new Mustang will retain a solid rear axle even though other cars on the DEW98 paltform have IRS? | ||
| Jeff Mclaird (Granitedisco) Member Username: Granitedisco Post Number: 148 Registered: 08-2003 |
If that happens - we'll still have the Santana  Or maybe some enterprising individual in India will buy out the manufacturing rights to the existing defender - just like the enfield motor bikes and the morris minor! JMHO | ||
| Matthew D. Shearin (Chuee) New Member Username: Chuee Post Number: 19 Registered: 03-2003 |
Yeah I know the original Bronco was an offroader. I owned a '73 Sport and it was sweet. Rebadging a Bronco as a Defender and just making it alittle different. No thanks. Though I would think that solid axles would be a given. Either way, Ford has their head up their ass. | ||
| Martin Tuip (Ajax) Member Username: Ajax Post Number: 68 Registered: 06-2003 |
Well .. I don't like the front end on the Santana ... it looks cheesy. Maybe I should just get one .. remove the old front and put a decent Defender nose on it ;) | ||
| Jeff Mclaird (Granitedisco) Member Username: Granitedisco Post Number: 153 Registered: 08-2003 |
Yep - I'm with you on that one Martin - the Satana front looks a bit funky Jeff | ||
| Mitch Williams (Mitch20) New Member Username: Mitch20 Post Number: 6 Registered: 12-2003 |
I think they were suggesting that Defender and Bronco would have the same body just different fronts like Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator. I would also have do say no to that, every time you park your car you would hear people asking about your Ford Bronco. Also if they were so similar but Bronco was thousands less would anyone buy the Defender? Weird how the Bronco concept is based on the Ford Escape though! | ||
| Victor (Vabiro) Member Username: Vabiro Post Number: 156 Registered: 10-2003 |
"The concept Bronco is built on the Escape platform" Does this mean they are thinking that they could make the Defender on the Escape platform too? Given the choice between the new Disco platform and the Ford Escape, I'll take the Disco platform. At least it was alegedly designed for off-road use. I doubt that was the first priority for the Escape. If Land Rover hopes to retain the UK DoD contract I think they will need to retain some platform more rugged than the new Disco, and definitely tougher than the Ford Escape. Their competitors in that market are trucks like the H1 and Merc G-wagen. The Canadians just evaluated the current Defender against the Hummer and Mercedes. The Mercedes won, and they have purchased the G-wagen to replace their Iltis POS. I bet if Land Rover moves too far from the UK in it's design culture their DoD will probably start shopping in Germany too. Victor | ||
| Alan Yim (Alan) Senior Member Username: Alan Post Number: 1015 Registered: 09-2002 |
Those Toyota Hummerthingys might start looking like attractive alternatives too. I'm with you Victor on those Iltis things. Might as well give all passengers toe-tags riding in those things. | ||
| Zin Head (Zinhead) New Member Username: Zinhead Post Number: 25 Registered: 12-2001 |
FWIW, the next generation G-wagon will share the same platform with ML replacement which is due in a few years. | ||
| Jeff Mclaird (Granitedisco) Member Username: Granitedisco Post Number: 154 Registered: 08-2003 |
Guess we'll all be sticking with "classic' land rovers and staying away from the new stuff - or switching to Pepsi ...... oooops I ment Gwagen, Megacruiser, Alvis, Unimog or Santana's. land Rover Get A Grip - Don't forget your roots. If we had wanted to buy fords we'd of got explorers, expeditions, excursions or escapes. |
