NEW DEFENDER DETAILS! Land Rover Trying To Throw Water On Fire Of Next Jeep Wrangler Leak Hype?

Fresh off the biggest leak of 2017....That would be the 2018 Wrangler pics, etc...Land Rover is dropping hints about the next Defender to tamp down the Wrangler buzz...



From Auto News:

"it was moments after sitting down to dinner with journalists last week during a press preview here for the new Range Rover Velar. A reporter asked McGovern if he felt pressure about the Defender as its public debut -- probably late next year or in early 2019 -- approaches. "That didn't take long, about three minutes," McGovern said, smiling. The next Defender is the most important vehicle -- I think -- in Land Rover's 70-year history."

We say YES, it is and we HOPE it's much nicer than the 'Honda Element' looking concepts we've seen at previous shows. We were TOTALLY underwhelmed with what we saw and thought the concepts were a BIG letdown.

McGovern stated clearly that it will NOT be retro...He says he is a modernist and only moves forward.

If true, then we suggest buying a classic one now because they will get even more valuable.

Is it a mistake if they don't please the classic crowd and go FULL modern?

Spies, discuss...

TheSteve - 10/17/2017 1:28:37 PM

+3 Boost

Jeep and Rover are vastly different markets. Just ask Jeep fans if they consider a Rover as a viable alternative. Ask Rover fans how much more "like a Jeep" they wish Rovers were.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 10/17/2017 2:07:33 PM

+1 Boost

It really depends as the Defender is used by people, businesses, and municipalities in its various forms. An updated vehicle that passes crash testing and has decent fuel economy will likely be welcome by current owners. An SUV that looks like a bar of soap (Discovery) and no longer looks anything remotely similar to its predecessor won't be. They are updating an icon, lots of skin in this game if they do not get it right.

MDarringer - 10/17/2017 7:05:23 PM

-2 Boost

Land Rover Range Rover has too many overlapping models that all look the same. This could be a massive hit for them because it looks different and purposeful.

PUGPROUD - 10/17/2017 3:22:21 PM

+1 Boost

Rugged simplicity is the target to shoot for...go anywhere, on any surface, in an kind of weather, park it anywhere,never caring how dirty it gets while always looking cool are the key elements of a Defender.

Dexter1 - 10/18/2017 6:20:23 AM

+2 Boost

LR should be ashamed for calling this goofy-ass looking thing a Defender. The next Jeep Renegade or MINI Cooper sport ute? Maybe. Defender? Never.

RegJoe1960 - 10/18/2017 10:49:39 AM

+4 Boost

I'm a Jeep owner and am on my third Wrangler so I am dedicated to the Marque. One of the things I like about the Wrangler is Jeeps apparent reluctance to depart very far from the original concept and appearence. I LIKE that! Having said all that there is one other 4x4 that makes me drool....the "old school" Defender or Discovery. I never got excited about the newer LR models. They have the same homogenized look that the countless Hyundai, Honda and Toyota SUVS all have. And yes....some of the modern non-Wrangler Jeeps as well. In my personal opinion, the above examples are ugly and 'lego' like in appearence. I wish LR would stop catering to the wealthy and produce something simple, inspired by the vehicle (s) that established the Marque, and most of all....affordable. But...this is all just a personal opinion. Because I am not one of the wealthy LR seems to cater to.??

zlives - 10/18/2017 3:24:29 PM

+1 Boost

i'd much rather buy a LR defender replica than this... whatever this is supposed to be.