http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbys...-rise.html

Article notes "Tata Motors ... bought the UK business in 2008 for £1.4bn – less than a year’s profits today". Ford must be really kicking themselves, as most of the success is due to the Ford-based FL2 and Evoque!

Ford have already admitted that they are gutted about selling off one of the jewels in their crown, but at the time they had no option.

It's a real kick in the b ks as these profits would have helped Ford out of a big hole. 21MY Defender 90 S 3.0 D200

Tata and Land Rover for that matter seem to be trading on past reputation.
Keep taking the profit for premium 4x4s that are better than the rest - at what?
Reliability better than Toyota?, Build quality better than BMW?

For me the best showcase for LR products was the Camel Trophy / G4 challenges - and the last one of those was 2006. The 2009 G4 was cancelled due to lack of funds, so what's the current excuse? Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

Andy131 wrote:

Tata and Land Rover for that matter seem to be trading on past reputation.
Keep taking the profit for premium 4x4s that are better than the rest - at what?
Reliability better than Toyota?, Build quality better than BMW?

YES and YES.

For me the best showcase for LR products was the Camel Trophy / G4 challenges - and the last one of those was 2006. The 2009 G4 was cancelled due to lack of funds, so what's the current excuse?

It would be great to see something like the Camel Trophy running again, but I don't think LR have a suitable vehicle any more!

The D4 and FFRR have the capability, but they're too complicated and too soft. How's a competitor in the middle of nowhere supposed to fix something like that if the air suspension fails, or the terrain response, or one of the umpteen other electronically-managed subsystems? And what's the interior going to look like after a few days?

The FL2 is a bit more straightforward (but still relies heavily on electronics), but without low range it's lacking that ultimate capability. (Yes, I know the FL1 was used in the last Camel in which LR were involved, and did very well too, but with the best will in the world the driving part of the Trophy had been diluted by that time, which is why it was the last year of LR's participation).

Which leaves us with Defender. Still, obviously, more than capable from a competence viewpoint, but shouldn't something a bit more comfortable be expected these days?


The D1/D2 and original RR managed to combine capability with comfort and practicality. The current range seems to have lost sight of what LRs are supposed to be (competent and practical off-roaders) in order to cash in on the on-road 'fashion' market. Which, from a business viewpoint, makes perfect sense so long as LR understand that what's fashionable today may be out of fashion tomorrow, and they may live to regret ditching their traditional markets.