REPORT: Land Rover replacing 61-year-old Defender model
2008 Land Rover Defender SVX - Click above for high-res photo gallery
There aren't very many vehicles on our blue planet that have soldered on for 61 straight years, but the Land Rover Defender comes up on the short list. The Defender is reason numero uno why Land Rover has the off-road superstar status that it does, but the Detroit Free Press is reporting that the go anywhere SUV may finally be nearing the end of the dirt trail.
Land Rover managing director Phil Popham reportedly told Australian newsletter GoAutoNew that emissions and pedestrian safety laws will force the Tata Motors-owned automaker to either profoundly re-engineer or flat-out replace the Defender by 2013. The iconic Defender, which is also available in the U.S., hasn't even received major body work since 1983, which incidentally was the year Plinko was added to Price is Right. Popham insists that Land Rover won't replace the Defender with a kinder, gentler vehicle, adding that the new vehicle would offer even more on- and off-road capability, and we're guessing that any new model will come standard with more modern aesthetics inside and out.
While it's pretty clear that the Defender as we know it is likely on it's last set of knobby tires, there is still a decent chance that the geriatric SUV's successor could retain the Defender name. After all, you just don't throw away 61 years of name recognition on a whim, right?
Gallery: Land Rover Defender SVX
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Alex 5:03PM (10/22/2009)
"The iconic Defender, which is also available in the U.S."
Really? Because I remember it being removed from US showrooms because it does not have air-bags which are a requirement for sale in the US.
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James 5:55PM (10/22/2009)
"...hasn't even received major body work since 1983, which incidentally was the year Plinko was added to Price is Right."
Plinko is classic.
Fooman 7:55PM (10/22/2009)
Yup a few where imported a couple years back, but they do not comply with US regs, hence the low number of imports then the stopping of importation.
Shaggs 1:24AM (10/23/2009)
It was only available for 3 years in the mid 90's, the Defender 110 only like 500 ever made it to the states (It's the four door). I wouldn' say it's available in the US, as it hasn'e been sold for over 10 years. Finding one is not an easy task.
F50 5:05PM (10/22/2009)
61 YEARS?!!!! Wow, I thought the Panther cars were old....
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Farmboy 8:01PM (10/22/2009)
Only thing I can think of older than that is Suburban, and Chrysler's lack of styling.
ozyran440 5:05PM (10/22/2009)
"Soldered" on, eh? I wasn't aware the Defender could do electronics work! I *knew* it was a do-anything vehicle!
On a more serious note, it is a shame to see this model go. The best one in their lineup, period. I'm sorry Defender, I guess you weren't smug enough or stuck up enough to be considered worthy of carrying on any longer.
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ozyran440 5:07PM (10/22/2009)
Maybe the new FWD-based LR2 will make a......worthy......successor?
[/sarcasm]
Joey Mazz 8:46PM (10/22/2009)
It's sad to see great vehicles killed off because of unnecessary government regulations and mandates. I'm sure that LR will replace it with a great vehicle, but it won't have the simplicity of the defender and it will probably be more expensive.
Paul P. 5:12PM (10/22/2009)
Just change it enough so it can be brought back to the U.S. Make sure to keep the manual transmission and diesel engine too, at least as an option.
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British_Rover 5:12PM (10/22/2009)
The Defender hasn't been avaliable officially in the US since 1997 when the new Airbag and emission rules for light trucks went into place.
The last Defenders were all V8 Automatics.
Land Rover imported about 2,500 1997 Defenders.
About 6,200 Defender 90s were imported into the US officially and about 500 D110s were imported.
Back a few years ago a good condition low mileage D110 would fetch $100,000 plus and a good condition low mileage 1997 D90 would fetch $50,000 plus.
Now I am not sure you could get that kind of money for them but maybe.
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ForgedInternals 5:59PM (10/22/2009)
I thought the Defender was suppose to get a platform that could be sold globally for awhile now.
I must admit though as I much as I really really want a Defender I can't see them selling well enough to justify the cost of a new global platform. Land Rover is seen (and sold) as a Luxury SUV brand here in the States and the off-roaders will opt for a Wrangler over a Defender. Of coarse that doesn't stop MB from selling the G-wagon though.
ForgedInternals 6:02PM (10/22/2009)
that was suppose to be a general comment not a reply to you sorry. Though I must say I haven't seen a Defender fetch anything less than 20k.
British_Rover 6:10PM (10/22/2009)
OH I have seen really ratty beat up 1994 Defenders sell in the mid teen range.
Back a couple of years ago I offered a Kid 13,500 for his 1994 Defender with 120,000 miles no soft top, the bad manual trans not the good one and tons of rust. Yes Defenders can rust they are not all aluminum and the aluminum can oxidize over time. The kid managed to sell it for 16,000 which I told him was great he made out like a bandit.
Just goes to show you what supply and demand will do. A new Defender in 1994 was in the middle 20,000 range. This kid beat the hell out of it for 10 years, he bought it form the original owner in 1998, and sold it for only about 10,000 less then its new MSRP.
fixitfixitstop 9:33PM (10/22/2009)
Forged, the word you mean to use is "supposed" not "suppose".
DonFromWhitby 9:05AM (10/23/2009)
A good condition NAS D90 from 1994 will fetch in the range of 29-39k depending on mileage, originality, etc. going newer, you will maybe add 4-5k.
A NAS D110 is still a special and rare beast. Unfortunately, original models are almost all in need of a rebuild due to age, rust, etc.
A restored version will fetch upwards of 80-100k - unrestored, high-mileage ones have been seen as low as 35k.
BTW, I'm constantly looking for a NAS D110 - but not too many near where I am.. I have a NAS D90, but it's just a bit too small for what I want it for. (even though it is the superior vehicle off-road)
Visnick 5:13PM (10/22/2009)
Between the Arnage and the Defender, things are sad in England-land
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BoxerFanatic 5:22PM (10/22/2009)
Every generation has a twilight... And we thank them for what they have done.
But hopefully the new Bentley, and the new Defender successor will be worthy successors. Too bad they aren't still in England, but Germany and India, now.
Hopefully a new defender will re-set the terms of a utility vehicle, and be extremely robust, and extremely capable at the same time, while being easy to service, and support in remote parts of the world. Plus there are 61 years worth of the previous vehicle's survivors that are still rolling, or providing parts... landies aren't magically going to be gone when the current model gives way to something new.
jmc8387 6:02PM (10/22/2009)
I don't know about that. I still think British cars are my favorite in terms of luxury and all around class. I love what Jaguar is doing, especially the XFR. Cant top the Land Rover Range Rover either in terms of all around elegance in a powerful, brute force sort of way. They are the last remaining truck brand who has not gone soft with a bunch of CUV's that are incapable of any real off-roading. Rolls Royce has a nice line-up, especially with the addition of their new Ghost. Bentley is still my favorite. They may finally be retiring the Arnage line-up, but the new Mulsanne looks like an excellent successor. The Mulssane still has the "old money" Bentley charm that the Arnage is know for. I love the GTC, I find it to be the best all around luxury/performance convertible offered today.
I guess overall, I prefer the class/elegance of a British car today than I do any other country of origin. Germany's Porsche ranks up there with the Brits in my mind as well when it comes to all around best of the best.
Dara 5:24PM (10/22/2009)
Actually the defender name has only been used since 1990 before then it was just the 90, 110 and the odd 127 coming out of the factory
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