At the design stage of the Freelander 2 that was introduced in 2006ish the market segment was "SUV"
today however that category has many subcategories.
As I said previously, LR are playing catchup which is what we call in the marketing business as "reactive" marketing.
This is the result of not anticipating the future market. To LR's defence, changing ownership a couple if times would not have helped. What we are seeing is the start of a complete realignment of the LR product to the current and future market. MY15
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Surround Camera System
InControl Apps soon to be replaced with CarPlay (WIP)
Meridian Premium Surround Sound
Digital Audio Broadcast
Timed Climate
Cruise ECO Data
Follow Me Home Reverse
Extra Features Menu
Picture In Motion
4x4i screen (WIP)
Digital Broadcast TV
Meridian Rear Media with WIFI
Factory Powered Tailgate
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Reverse Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Electrochromatic Wing Mirrors (WIP)

That makes sense. I'm pretty new to LR so didn't live through that period of changing ownership and uncertainty. From my (limited) perspective, it *seems* there is a coherent strategy based on their new releases in my 2 years of ownership and their clear focus on the 3 sub brands. The significant design overlaps though do perhaps reduce that clear delineation.

Although I can understand the frustration of some that the brand is drifting from serving it's long standing base of loyal users. A lot of parallels with Apple; many long term pro users feel they're not being catered for with the shift to consumer electronics. But for both perhaps it seems it was necessary for survival (and now thriving)?

BTW nice to see another green freelander owner on here They're pretty rare where I live - only occasionally see one. Saw my first green evoque yesterday - not sure it suits though! Looks good on a RRS - but pretty rare too. FL2 2011 SD4 XS in Galway Green

I'm not privy to LR's long term market strategy and what models will be on offer in each segment in the future. What I can say is they are following the standard marketing approach of having as strong an offer in the largest/largest growing market segments now and in the future. This will allow them to have a strong sales base to expand their brand offer into other market segments which they currently do not have an offer thus expanding the "Brand Offer" and incremental sales. This is where they can then invest in "Brand Identity". Currently LR needs to concentrate on sales volume to be able to afford to invest in new models/segments in the future!
DS is only the start!
Haha Yes! Went In to order White and came out with Aintree Green. It's an amazing colour and really looks great with the Ebony on Ebony interior! I even forgo Tan Windsor Seats as I couldn't get that combination that late in the build. In hindsight I prefer the Ebony. I'm very happy with it!



 MY15
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Surround Camera System
InControl Apps soon to be replaced with CarPlay (WIP)
Meridian Premium Surround Sound
Digital Audio Broadcast
Timed Climate
Cruise ECO Data
Follow Me Home Reverse
Extra Features Menu
Picture In Motion
4x4i screen (WIP)
Digital Broadcast TV
Meridian Rear Media with WIFI
Factory Powered Tailgate
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Reverse Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Electrochromatic Wing Mirrors (WIP)

Looking great!

I think it has some of the menace and presence of black, but with more subtly and variation in different lighting. FL2 2011 SD4 XS in Galway Green

Stuartc wrote:

Went In to order White and came out with Aintree Green.

 MY15
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Surround Camera System
InControl Apps soon to be replaced with CarPlay (WIP)
Meridian Premium Surround Sound
Digital Audio Broadcast
Timed Climate
Cruise ECO Data
Follow Me Home Reverse
Extra Features Menu
Picture In Motion
4x4i screen (WIP)
Digital Broadcast TV
Meridian Rear Media with WIFI
Factory Powered Tailgate
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Reverse Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
Electrochromatic Wing Mirrors (WIP)

Just been talking with my neighbour who is a senior manager at TH White. Land Rover have taken away their concession citing the fact that they do NOT want to be associated with agriculture.(TH WHite sell tractors and other machinery to farmers and the like) I asked him about the proposed new Defender and he seemed to think that it will never get off the drawing board. They can make shed loads of money selling RR in all their guises which are infinitely more profitable than the utility type of vehicle that once was their hallmark.

So there you go - the market is the far East, estate agents, WAGS and other poncy types. MY 09 GS manual in Lago Grey, Wood Co arm rest and side bumper strips - now sold.

MY 15 SD4 SE Auto Orkney Grey with colour coded Bumper Door Mouldings

We will see another Defender without a doubt, there is still a market for this type of vehicle, albeit small. 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

It's off the drawing board and driving around the Gaydon test site, the chassis is heavily disguised with a FFRR body.

tenet wrote:

Just been talking with my neighbour who is a senior manager at TH White. Land Rover have taken away their concession citing the fact that they do NOT want to be associated with agriculture.(TH WHite sell tractors and other machinery to farmers and the like) I asked him about the proposed new Defender and he seemed to think that it will never get off the drawing board. They can make shed loads of money selling RR in all their guises which are infinitely more profitable than the utility type of vehicle that once was their hallmark.

So there you go - the market is the far East, estate agents, WAGS and other poncy types.

What a depressing bit of news, quite put me out.  FL2 Ex D2, D3, RRS, etc. now all gone.

tenet wrote:

They can make shed loads of money selling RR in all their guises which are infinitely more profitable than the utility type of vehicle that once was their hallmark.

So there you go - the market is the far East, estate agents, WAGS and other poncy types.

That's a lovely looking car Stuartc.

I see that What Car? have run another comparison test this time of small, compact or whatever you want to call em 7 seat SUVs. DS v Santa Fe, X Trail and Sorento. Part of their test reproduced here.

Don't think LR will be very chuffed that the DS came second to the Kia! There were good scores for the DS in some respects nice interior etc. I imagine however that many buyers would rather have the Landrover badge on display for their school runs than Kia, Nissan or Hyundai and as What Car note, the new engines will help.
For me the most striking thing is how LR have managed to make the DS look like a clone of the others - from the side they are just about identical. So for me whether or not the DS is king of the 7 seat school run it is too similar to the rest. No doubt it would go a little bit further off road but the DS certainly does not stand apart from the others as a Land Rover.

I beg to differ with Badger - I think LR have all but abandoned the utility sector - is that not their original base market?
The Defender has been a lame duck for years, LR allowed it to fall far below the standards of competitor vehicles and the development went into vehicles which redefined the brand, pushing it much further up market.

Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated

Ripon land rover are also Ripon farm services
LR made them split the business onto two separate sites about 15 years ago, new fancy show room etc etc
Now John Deere are demanding a new fancy show room for tractors and harvesters in order to rise above the LR image.

very unlikely that the Ripon businesses will ever split or be forced to split. At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Tradewind 35 wrote:

I beg to differ with Badger - I think LR have all but abandoned the utility sector - is that not their original base market?
The Defender has been a lame duck for years, LR allowed it to fall far below the standards of competitor vehicles and the development went into vehicles which redefined the brand, pushing it much further up market.

Wait and see....all will be revealed....  Foraging near Gaydon....
——————————————
MY13 HSE Lux SD4, Baltic Blue - current, 30,000> miles without fault
MY12 HSE 2.2 SD4, Sumatra Black - gone after 10 months/43,000 fault-free miles

I drove past a Mercedes dealership last week and they had a "G Wagon" right at the front with an £87k price sticker! Is this the pricing territory that we are heading for with a new LR Defender ? 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE