If it was your job to design a new defender

So anyway, recently on here someone posted a link to take part in a group of some sort to help LR develop that DC100 thing. I put my name down, and today got a questionnaire to fill out online. Load of stuff about country life, city life etc, couldn’t quite put my finger on where their aim is going, but either they want city folk to buy them or country folk but seemingly not the other.

So it gets me thinking, what would you do to make the current defender better?

I mean, to my mind, they do need to start putting more efficient and less polluting engines in. That much is forced by the EU, and there’s no getting away from that for the time being. Unfortunately that probably means it comes along with all the computer controlled terrains modes etc, which I’m sure we’re all sceptical as to whether it really does match up to the good old diff-lock and using common sense and skill whilst driving off road. And of course the worry about computer reliability and the doubt as to whether a computer really is a better judge of how to drive those terrains than we are.

But as to the vehicle itself; I’m sure we’d all agree that there are a number of common complaints that we wish were sorted out. E.g. its bloody cold in winter, it’s not water tight (there are a number of places that water get in), it’s noisy on and off road, and perhaps (styling-wise) it’s more square than it could be.

I, for one, really like the bonnet hump in the later fenders rather than the flat bonnet I have on mine. It just looks more muscular. And I think the back, between the roof and the back door, could look better. I mean, what’s there now is purely functional (which is what fenders are all about), but I do think the front of a defender looks better than the back somehow.

I mean, whoever it is in that company that designs Jaguars, always seems to make good looking, muscular looking, cars. Why have they not asked him to help on the DC100 rather than create the ugly love child of the gaylander and the mini.


So if it were your job to design a new defender, what would you do to it?

What problems would you want solved?
What would you change?
What would you definitely not change?

should start building 300 tdi's again and have done with it

3.5 efi said:

should start building 300 tdi's again and have done with it

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Aye! proppa Defender with a proppa engine.

I would go back to the pre Puma seat layout, but with the 2.8 litre Iveco engine found in the Santana PS 10

martin1512 said:

I would go back to the pre Puma seat layout, but with the 2.8 litre Iveco engine found in the Santana PS 10

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TDV8 for me

I'd revamp it and supersize the bugger

Why change something that works so well?

Tweak the current Defender!

New powerplants (factory TDV6 'fender?)
More watertight
Quieter
Better construction (less exposed fittings, tighter panel gaps etc)
Better range of options from the dealer
New interiors
Maybe tweak the styling a tad, new grille, better lights etc

They should come brush painted instead of the gay metallic colours the new ones come in

CoupeUK said:

Why change something that works so well?

Tweak the current Defender!

New powerplants (factory TDV6 'fender?)
More watertight
Quieter
Better construction (less exposed fittings, tighter panel gaps etc)
Better range of options from the dealer
New interiors
Maybe tweak the styling a tad, new grille, better lights etc

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This is exactly what I mean.

The defender does something that nothing else comes close. So why do they want to change it, when all it needs is tweeking.

I'm certain that the engines will change. In all cars, they've already changed so radically in recent times, completely driven by emissions and legislation that forces them to change.

Water tight and soundproofing should be possible in a defender, given the might and resources of JLR.

Regarding options: one of the questions in the questionaire was to rate 1 to 3, the importance of some specific options. They have all manner of ****. Sonar for wading (sounds like a gimmick), Telematics (presumably nothing my sat nav app can't already do). There was an option for something that spots obstacles when off roading and tells you a better route (how fecking annoying would that be when you've purposely driven over something difficult). Although there was a few options that caught my eye in terms of cool gadgets (I wish I could remember more off the list). In the end though, I had to rate the normal functional stuff that I really need, rather than the toys (I do think that these kind of questionaires dont ask the right questions, but are far more guiding into getting the answers they want rather than people's actual options).

What options would you like though?

I think that a galv chassis should be an option. A winch maybe. different arrangements of seats in the back.



Oh I remember, spiked tyres at the touch of a button was an option. Sounds like proprt James Bond ****.

Dont want to **** on anyones parade, but for the fender to survive it has to sell in the USA and meet all the bollox EU ****, thats why it need a radical redesign. Where do you fit a crumple zone on a ladder chassis and beam axles.

id look at a different way ,for all lr cars to survive in long run they need the defender,even if it isnt profitable

would say if it aint broke dont fix it!! , but its too late! ford have already broke it !

mundungus said:

This is exactly what I mean.

The defender does something that nothing else comes close. So why do they want to change it, when all it needs is tweeking.

I'm certain that the engines will change. In all cars, they've already changed so radically in recent times, completely driven by emissions and legislation that forces them to change.

Water tight and soundproofing should be possible in a defender, given the might and resources of JLR.

Regarding options: one of the questions in the questionaire was to rate 1 to 3, the importance of some specific options. They have all manner of ****. Sonar for wading (sounds like a gimmick), Telematics (presumably nothing my sat nav app can't already do). There was an option for something that spots obstacles when off roading and tells you a better route (how fecking annoying would that be when you've purposely driven over something difficult). Although there was a few options that caught my eye in terms of cool gadgets (I wish I could remember more off the list). In the end though, I had to rate the normal functional stuff that I really need, rather than the toys (I do think that these kind of questionaires dont ask the right questions, but are far more guiding into getting the answers they want rather than people's actual options).

What options would you like though?

I think that a galv chassis should be an option. A winch maybe. different arrangements of seats in the back.



Oh I remember, spiked tyres at the touch of a button was an option. Sounds like proprt James Bond ****.

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Galvanized chassis should be factory rather than optional.

Defenders shouldnt be high tech and filled to the brim with gadgets and electronic trickery. They should be basic, simple and versatile.

They have to appeal to everyone, anything from rural mums to the military....basic simple options should be offered from the factory such as snorkels, winches, decent sat nav, AT/MT tyres, audio upgrades, better security, locking rear diff (option on current RR/D4's), xenons, reversing cameras, roofracks, HDC etc

IMO you have to look into how people are tricking up their Defenders now to see what people would really want, aswell as what purpose they are being used for. For instance I cant see the local farmer wanting a decent stereo system where as a city cruiser might etc

(sorry its getting a bit late for me to write a long winded more detailed reply lol)

4" wider to get rid of the "elbow" problem and dana 60s or ford 9 axles,galv etc. job done

The current engine offering they have in the defender is the 2.2 ford transit engine - with a lot of electronic gadgetry to get it to perform efficiently meeting eu regs.
Q - is it not possible to have/create a deisel engine that performs efficiently meeting these EU regs without the computer/electronic engine management - something along the lines of a 200 or 300tdi ?
maybe a silly question but if anyone knows?

Re: changes to the current design - Id like a slightly wider rear door on the hardtop which would improve access for wider loads! and maybe an integral roll bar for the cab might be a reasonable idea