https://www.topgear.com/videos/frankfurt-motor-show/video-drink-all-details-land-rovers-new-defenderFor some obscure reason Top Gear appears to have made a video including
facts and
information so for anyone who is judging it on just the still pictures, its actually pretty useful, and you get to see some of the more subtle details which don't really come across in most pics.
I notice the checkerplate on the wings seems to be actually functional, so you can actually climb on the vehicle? They've also made the spec/trim levels pretty good re: As the Honorable Mr Fuse 19 says, gives you the
choice of basic mud-plugger or blingmobile.
This was always my issue with the BMW Mini - if you're reinventing an icon you should look at what its market was
then, why it became great, look at
today's market, and make the vehicle for
today and allow it to achieve its own greatness, not try and shoehorn it in with chrome bezels and union flag tailamps.
Bit of disposable income now the old RAF airfileds been converted back to pasture, need for round the farm duties, then pop into town without swapping to the old jalopy was the market in Post-War Britain... Even ffwd 30 years and the Series III/90/110 did somewhat still have the market to itself, and a do anything, go anywhere vehicle; being 4WD was still unusual.
None of that applies to today, today's clients & market. Also it suffered when it came up against such as Land Cruiser in world markets, hence it mainly remained a British institution - JLR clearly want this to be a worldwide sales success - they want to be the 'Band that breaks America'
Some might remember how the original Disco was originally seen as too 'soft' and 'just a family car' - now they're to be had for relative peanuts you see no end with sawn off bumpers, jacked up ride height, ladders everywhere and wheels off a monster truck. They were/are a very capable off roader wrapped up in the clothes of something softer, friendly. Its a fine line, Disco 4 was very hard-edged and very 'true' to LR ethos - and sales werent entirely there - the current is much softer, clean, minimalist and looks like a 'town car' - yet the offroad ability and functionality is still there, hidden under the surface for those who want to look.
Back to New Defender - lots of chunky black plastic to take/hide knocks and bumps I see, which is good