1. Home
  2. Land Rover 4WD vehicles
  3. Defender 90: North American return?

Defender 90: North American return?

I'm trying to spur some conversations here I guess. But I was thinking about how cool the Defender 90 was/is and how dissapointing it is that the model has been missing from the U.S. for so long. Considering how "bare bones" they are, I don't see any reason why the 90 and 110 couldn't be returned to the U.S. market with price tags between 32 and 40 thousand dollars USD to slot between the Freelander and LR3 (Discovery 3) in the lineup. The LR3 starts at $44k here which is a bit much for many people. Any possibility of this? Steve Grauman

Reply to
Steve Grauman
Loading thread data ...

None whatsoever as the model is today. It does not meet your safety requirements. It's not good enough for you. It is ironic that our masters, for the sake of a few jobs in the midlands, lets it be sold here as long as the body or chassis is not substantially modified. If it were modified by the factory, it would have to go through modern crash tests and meet rollover standards that it would have no hope in Hell of passing. If only they would bring a completely new model out, based on LR3 perhaps, then you may again see a Defender. Just don't hold your breath.

Huw

Reply to
Huw

I think an LR3 based model would render it to expensive for the U.S. market. It'd need to start well below the $44k starting price of the LR3 to have a market here. I'm not holding my breath though. Steve Grauman

Reply to
Steve Grauman

"Steve Grauman" wrote > >based on LR3 perhaps,

My understanding is that LR are currently looking at a Defender type vehicle using the TD5 chassis (new LR3/Disco 3) as it's called. The problem is Defenders are mainly hand built because of the numerous configuration types needed to fulfil the commercial market it is designed for. This causes problems for the "bean counters".

There is also rumour they are looking at a cheaper, Suzuki Justy, type vehicle, basic, go anywhere, cheap and with the chunky Defender type looks. Based on an existing Ford floorpan no doubt.

Reply to
Bob Hobden

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.