 | Home > General & Technical (L663) > SCOOP - New Defender DC100 |
 
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| alantd Member Since: 14 Dec 2008 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 1513   
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WOW! not sure I really want to get involved in this thread - seems a bit polarised.
Here's a summary all assuming that change is inevitable: Pros of the concept
Undoubtedly cheaper to manufacture Designed around a global market (increased volume) Better drivability and economy (for sure) Better safety for passengers (for sure) Better driver comfort and interior room (surely) Probably more accessible and capable off road "out of the box" Will undoubtedly have some excellent, tailored design features Higher quality fit and finish Land Rover execs using all the right language and rhetoric Cons of the concept
Looks like the design brief has been given precedence over the product utility brief Appears to be riddled with the sorts of modern automotive "features" that run counter to Defender use (e.g. plastic moulded, painted bumpers that will easily scratch; plastic skirts that will tear off...) Danger that it is loaded with technology that becomes difficult/expensive to DIY (or field) maintain Danger that it is difficult to adapt with 3rd party extensions because of the complex, integrated mouldings Danger that by extending market appeal (dumbing down utility) it erodes the core values - not sure how that's avoidable Potential loss of identity through attempt to appeal to too many broad "marketing segments" Feel free to add to the lists. Change has to happen (current vehicle is past its sell by date). Question is only in what ways can the DC100 concept be improved?. Like it or not, we have to think of this from Land Rover's perspective. There are 25,000 buyers out there right now who, every year, for one reason or another, select the Defender over all other vehicles. However, that's not enough (however passionate and vocal we are). LR can either try and develop a new market with a new type of vehicle (and lets face it they're better than anyone else in the world at defining new categories) or they can try and take as many of those 25k customers as possible and add another 25k per year. A Difficult brief but important. If you can't please everyone, who do you focus on? My opinion for what it's worth: Bias the vehicle towards the 'wannabe' and 'just good enough' market (like Ford's, Mitsubishi's and Nissan's products) and there's a huge potential global audience (even just cannibalising their market share). They'll lose a lot of the current 25k customers but there's probably more than enough market to make that back. Long term, however, I reckon it'll damage the brand. Bias it towards utility and capability and they're addressing a smaller overall market but will remain the only players in town that can meet the brief. They'll maintain most of the current 25k customers and longer term, it'll support the company brand better and potentially have a halo effect on future product sales. I hope they do the latter but I fear that today's business practices will dictate the former. Shame. One that started out as a 2.4 TDCi 110 XS + New Defender 110 First Edition |
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30th Sep 2011 1:19pm |
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| pcoote Member Since: 01 Aug 2010 Location: Oxford Posts: 83 
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Excellent post Alan
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30th Sep 2011 1:31pm |
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| Setok Member Since: 16 Jan 2009 Location: Helsinki Posts: 419 
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So you're advocating LR does the same old British car industry trick of not competing but cutting off valued products? 25K cars is still a respectable number, and it's profitable for them, and — as has often been pointed out — there is no fundamental reason why LR couldn't capture more still of that market. Many more would choose a Defender if the reliability reputation would be dealt with, if it was available in their country, and a few other issues were fixed. Or you could sell to the soccer mums, but they've kind of got that market covered already. As to not being 'allowed' to comment on what we've seen. What's the point of revealing a concept if we can't have discussion? It's a Landy forum. |
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2nd Oct 2011 8:27pm |
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| Setok Member Since: 16 Jan 2009 Location: Helsinki Posts: 419
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I'm not even sure if there is that much market to make back. They've got that area covered extremely well with pretty successful products, unless they see some way to own even more market share there (remembering they already have 5 products in that area). But there should be a lot to gain in LR's more traditional market as they've lost so much ground to competition. |
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2nd Oct 2011 8:32pm |
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| MacDefender Member Since: 17 Aug 2011 Location: Caxias do Sul Posts: 16  
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Is THIS the "improved", "new" and "modern" Defender project ????
This is exactly what happens in Bollywood... Dam it.... Rise englishman, RISE.....before was too late.  |
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3rd Oct 2011 5:41pm |
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| AndrewS Member Since: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Hereford Posts: 3707 
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Well I'm looking forward to seeing and buying the new Defender.
 Click image to enlarge And I want a set of these tyres Click image to enlarge 130's have feeling's as well you know  |
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3rd Oct 2011 9:26pm |
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| spudfan Member Since: 10 Sep 2007 Location: Co Donegal Posts: 4646 
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How long before someone here works out how to retro fit this stuff to a series vehicle? My series 111 should be back on the road by then. I can just imagine the ads-Easy d.i.y. kit. Update your trusty series workhorse to latest James Bond, sorry, Gerry McGovern specs. Bet Zag is chaffing at the bit already. Must agree about those tyres though, but knowing the EU,we will probably need a licence to use them as there "is potential to harm pedestrians,especially if they are lying down in the snow."
 1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali 2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu 2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai |
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3rd Oct 2011 9:43pm |
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| AndrewS Member Since: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Hereford Posts: 3707
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Ahh but the intelligent 3D scanner will detect said pedestrian and alert the driver or take action its self, deploy the spikes and stop before the vehicle hits the ped 130's have feeling's as well you know |
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4th Oct 2011 5:55am |
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| 22900013A Member Since: 23 Dec 2010 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 3149 
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Of all the nonsense proposed for this "vehicle", I think spiked tyres will be the first thing to disappear when Landrover finally get real.
And shall we all agree to just call it a new Landrover? I mean, I can call a dog turd a chocolate bar, but it doesn't mean it is one, just like calling this thing a Defender. The more I think about it, the more I think the Defender name should simply be ended, the vehicle given a good send off, then we can all just forget about the company. 2011 110 USW 1973 Series III 1-Ton 1972 Series III 1-Ton Cherrypicker 1969 IIA 1-Ton 1966 IIA 88" |
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4th Oct 2011 5:57am |
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| AndrewS Member Since: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Hereford Posts: 3707
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Your joking yea...... but its real it says so in the brochure. 130's have feeling's as well you know |
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4th Oct 2011 9:41am |
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| spudfan Member Since: 10 Sep 2007 Location: Co Donegal Posts: 4646
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Have been told by someone in LR that this is "one of four". So looks like it was put out to put us all off the scent. 1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali 2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu 2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai |
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4th Oct 2011 3:36pm |
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| pcoote Member Since: 01 Aug 2010 Location: Oxford Posts: 83
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That's encouraging news, I heard there were three concepts, not sure if the beach buggy thing counts as a separate concept. |
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4th Oct 2011 3:46pm |
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| AJS4X4 Member Since: 28 May 2008 Location: Surrey Posts: 793
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I bet you would love to let on what you (and I) already know "HEADGEHOG"  Andy.
www.ajstyres.co.uk 01737 241370 Junction 8 M25 Surrey. |
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12th Oct 2011 6:05pm |
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| Sonic3d Member Since: 28 Jan 2008 Location: Ross on Wye Posts: 1505 
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I will let someone else spill the beans on that info |
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12th Oct 2011 6:11pm |
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