Despite all the shout from the motoring press the new Defender is going to be a hybrid of many models to keep the cost down with small modifications, hopefully McGovern won't be involved as he's a stylist and what's needed is an engineer to assemble existing parts as cheaply as possible to produce a practical utility vehicle. I suspect that any fixed hard top model will be based on a FFRR though the rear door may be side opening to facilitate loading with a fork lift or other fork fitted farm vehicles, though the chassis may well be the same modified alloy base the large Defender replacement for the 110 may well be based on a FFRR the 90 replacement could be based on one of the smaller models. There is no 2 door model in the LR range except the Ewok drop head so that may be a basis for a 90 pickup suitably stretched, the larger 6 cab and 110's will probably need a new rear end, though if McGovern is involved the choice of numberplate may be more important that practicability. my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

New Defender will push the G Wagon in the shade
https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/uk.motor1.c...class/amp/ MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony 🪣💺’s

I appreciate that that’s only a PhotoShop collage of modern LR models and complete guesswork, but still hope that the genuine design looks fresh, different and recognisably a Defender... and nothing like this PhotoShop!

The above looks like a Yeti with an Evoque front.
Cant imagine it selling to the diehard defender fans but as a leisure / suv it would sell in bucket loads. Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

The more talk of the new defender the more I think it might be a good replacement for the FL2, cos none of the current line up cut it for me!

I still regard the Freelander 2 as the new Defender...

I would actually buy that test mule in the pics above as a production 3 door

Monza wrote:

I still regard the Freelander 2 as the new Defender...

JLR do have a problem with the new what ever it is as, if you want a Defender, you have already got one, you can buy a second hand one or you can make one from parts.

The engineering in a real Defender is based on "Is that big enough to do the job? Probably but let's double it just in case." Anything that might be inclined to break has been designed out in 60 years of on going development. Even with the best computer simulations you don't get 60 years of real life development.

If you need a hole in a Defender you drill a hole. I can't see that being the case on a new one.

If you need to fix a Defender, assuming you have a spanner big enough, a hammer and access to welding, you fix a Defender.

The only down side with the Defender is it's migration from the farm and open Countryside (where it was designed to pay its way) to suburbia where it is a ludicrous piece of kit. Elf & Safety aside the death knell of the real Defender came about when it became trendy. I have every confidence that the new Defender will be aimed at the trend buyer rather than the utilitarian market where it was born.

While I wax lyrical about the Defender, that probably isn't quite right as the rot set in when the 90 and 110 became Defender. Engines became more complicated and electrons were required to do more than illuminate bulbs and spark spark plugs.

Steven.T wrote:

The more talk of the new defender the more I think it might be a good replacement for the FL2, cos none of the current line up cut it for me!

Gay Don ....... goes to Gaydon to test the New/Old Latest Defender 110

How many times does he pass that stretch of road with the 50MPH sign !!!!

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/video/cars/land-...spartanntp

.

How annoying can one person be?

Off road cars need more space between the wheel and wheel arches to deal with wheel travel and mud/clay build up inside the wheel arch. I've had the FL2 stuck because sticky clay has solidified from the heat of the tyre rotating through it causing the rubber tread to wear down to the threaded belts in the carcass. It ruined 2 brand new all terrain tyres and eventually stopped the wheels from rotating. The tyres were put on that very day so a very expensive exercise. I undid the wheel nuts and couldn't get the tyres off as they were suctioned into the clay. That has happened to me twice on outback trips now. I'm waiting for the new Defender but if it has this shortcoming I'll look elsewhere for my FL2 replacement.

As you do I was chatting tonight in a small country pub to a older semi retired farmer. He had a FL2 and now runs a Disco Sport that he loves. I digress but he was saying how he is aware of many previous Disco owners are going into Disco Sports rather than the new full fat Discos for a) Too expensive and b) Just too darn large to park in normal use in town by the wife. The new Defender is going to be make or break.  FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current