New baby Landie

Bob Hobden uttered summat worrerz funny about:

I'm sure that it'll find a market and being Greener is a good thing too.

I'm certain LR will also find a comercial as well to replace the Defender but I guess alot will depend on the new buyers.

Hopefully it won't be too Transit like.

Lee D

Or too tata like, even worse...

According to Autocar it's only a concept at the mo. 2 different people who know of my love of LR's have mentioned seeing the same vehicle being tested on public roads. Both were last week.

Dom

I think "hoped" is very much more what you meant! :-) You can't seriously expect LR to go back to making proper utility vehicles now they have gone into the more prosperous fashion statement market.

They are bound to put out a smaller LR at some point now that they have shifted (pointlessly IMHO) the Freelander up to Disco (D1) size.

Absolutely nothing to do with being 'greener', they are just broadening the range, and hoping to make more money in the process! If they had wanted to be 'greener' they would never have increased the size of the Freelander.

Matt

Lets face it..LR aint what they used to be. No longer geared to vehicles for specialist use, now its just a stupid fashion statement.

Z®

Your so right. They're not what they used to be. Now they're=20 sophisticated, comfortable vehicles that appeal to a wider range of=20 users/owners than ever before.

It's no use gearing production for "specialist use" if the specialist=20 users are happy to buy off-the-shelf competitors vehicles at 2/3 the pric= e.

Let's not ignore the fact that it's those fashion statements that have=20 kept the company in business for the past 18 years.

Personally, I'm glad the company isn't what it used to be.

--=20 Regards

Steve G

Your so right. They're not what they used to be. Now they're sophisticated, comfortable vehicles that appeal to a wider range of users/owners than ever before.

It's no use gearing production for "specialist use" if the specialist users are happy to buy off-the-shelf competitors vehicles at 2/3 the price.

Let's not ignore the fact that it's those fashion statements that have kept the company in business for the past 18 years.

Personally, I'm glad the company isn't what it used to be.

Don't forget that all the Porsche sportscar owners were up in arms about the Cayenne but now they realise it was that vehicle that has enabled the Co. to become so prosperous and to produce even better/faster sportscars. The problem with LR is they seem to be going up market and trendy with all their products. I now wonder if they will ever bother to replace the Defender, or just let it die?

Well, you are right on so many points, but, why the f*ck hasn't quality increased with the prices?

Erm, 'cause it's British? :-P

Geo

The Defender is still considered the ultimate Land Rover, the vehicle for the die-hards (and the knowledgeable farmers) and without a doubt, the true son of the original Landie. I assure you sir, the fact that I own a 90 is a mere coincidence, I am in no way biased...

I don't think replacement is the right way to go, as much as correct, thorough development. The switch from the SIII to the 90/110 was more proper development than replacement in my eyes. There's lots that can still be done better, particularly in areas concerning usability.

I don't want something sophisticated or comfy, if that's going to be to the detriment of simplicity and ease of use. A Defender has to be geared towards military/agricultural/utilitarian use. That's what Land Rover stood for and there has to be a vehicle in the range to still hold true to those values. See it as an expensive marketing tool, which happens to sell well to the few people wanting a no-nonsense vehicle. My only concern is whether modern regulations will allow a defender to be as simple as it should be.

Regarding the baby Landie, if LR really brought out a vehicle the size of a Lada Niva/Suzuki Samurai, I'd really be sold, provided it'd be Landie enough and not just another small SUV. There's already enough of those around and I doubt LR will match japanese build quality.

Geo