End of the Land Rover Defender?

[jonty14]

Just wondering. What will the armed forces and other service providers use when the land rover defender is no longer produced. Network rail use them as well. What will they replace them with?

 

[ainsworth74]

Well the Army have literally thousands (I think in the region of 10,000 at least) of Defender derivatives in service so I don't think they'll be panicking just yet. Might even be able to make an arrangement with Land Rover to continue to supply spare parts even though production has ceased (assuming that Land Rover won't be continuing anyway).

More generally I assumed that any one that currently uses a Defender will simply by either another, potentially customized, product from the Land Rover range or alternatively they may opt to procure a vehicle from another supplier. Plenty of people make off-road vehicles.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'd imagine move to one of the many Japanese pickups, which are more robust and more reliable anyway.

I have noticed that such vehicles are more common on farms than Landys these days.

 

[muz379]

the army will no doubt have a stockpile of spares and will probably be able to reach some agreement with regards to obtaining spare parts .

As for network rail . Ive seen a fair few network rail Mitsubishi and Toyota pickup truck type vehicles . So no doubt they will go for something like that

 

[DarloRich]

wont they just move onto the new land rover that is in development?

 

[Temple Meads]

wont they just move onto the new land rover that is in development?

I'm a bit out of the loop with the spec's of the Defender replacement, but when you look at how the other LR products have evolved into luxury cars, I wouldn't be surprised if the new 'Defender' is a bit too plush (and expensive....) at the expense of off road ability, although I still imagine it will be pretty formidable in that respect.

 

[DarloRich]

I'm a bit out of the loop with the spec's of the Defender replacement, but when you look at how the other LR products have evolved into luxury cars, I wouldn't be surprised if the new 'Defender' is a bit too plush (and expensive....) at the expense of off road ability, although I still imagine it will be pretty formidable in that respect.

I am sure the normal version will be "luxury off roading" but I assume LR will be keen to keep hold of the MOD contract and offer a "no frills" version for MOD use

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'm a bit out of the loop with the spec's of the Defender replacement, but when you look at how the other LR products have evolved into luxury cars, I wouldn't be surprised if the new 'Defender' is a bit too plush (and expensive....) at the expense of off road ability, although I still imagine it will be pretty formidable in that respect.

I get the impression it is a very slightly Defender-like body on one of the Range Rover (possibly Sport) platforms. It certainly isn't the ladder-frame chassis of the original - it is a monocoque.

 

[Bishopstone]

I'd imagine move to one of the many Japanese pickups, which are more robust and more reliable anyway.

I have noticed that such vehicles are more common on farms than Landys these days.

Yes, something like a Mitsubishi L200 or Toyota HiLux would be adequate for many/most uses. For personnel transport, something with more seats is necessary, and I can't immediately think of an alternative with similar off-road capability, around the same price point.

 

[Zamracene749]

Nearest equivalent is perhaps the mercedes G-wagen, pretty rugged, superb off road ability, with 3 lockable diffs and supplied by a geographically close NATO ally?

 

[Western Lord]

Well the Army have literally thousands (I think in the region of 10,000 at least) of Defender derivatives in service so I don't think they'll be panicking just yet. Might even be able to make an arrangement with Land Rover to continue to supply spare parts even though production has ceased (assuming that Land Rover won't be continuing anyway).

"Land Rover won't be continuing" ??? You do know that it is the name of the company, not a model name. Like all car makers, Land Rover are obliged under EU law to continue to supply spare parts for discontinued models for, if I recall correctly, seven years after the end of production. So no immediate problem for any operator of the vehicle.

 

[ainsworth74]

"Land Rover won't be continuing" ??? You do know that it is the name of the company, not a model name. Like all car makers, Land Rover are obliged under EU law to continue to supply spare parts for discontinued models for, if I recall correctly, seven years after the end of production. So no immediate problem for any operator of the vehicle.

Yes I am aware that Land Rover is the company not a model name. If you read my comment again I hope the meaning will become clear. However, just in case, it was meant to convey that the MoD may be able to enter into an agreement with Land Rover to procure spare parts from them (assuming that Land Rover (the company) were not planning on continuing to produce spares in any case).

I apologize that you were not able to understand what I meant earlier.

I did think there was an obligation to to do so but was not sure hence the above comment but thank you for clarifying that there is indeed a requirement to do so.

 

[Bletchleyite]

In any case there is a huge aftermarket for Landy spares and will continue to be for many years yet, given that supposedly a very large number of the ones ever built remain on the road in some form.