(citando e para ficar ca no forum UMM)
The long-speculated Defender replacement is developing on the drawing board ready for a 2012 debut.
It is the one vehicle in the Land Rover line-up that can trace its ancestry right back to the very beginning in the late 40s. Even to the uninitiated the Defender is still recognisable as THE Land Rover but we all knew it couldn't go on forever.
Ever tightening restrictions in various markets have seen the Defender fighting for its life for a number of years. Land Rover have performed miracles in keeping this agricultural truck as up to date as possible and have been able to keep it 'current' against all the odds.
But Land Rover have finally realised that after 2012 when even more motoring red-tape comes on line even they cannot keep re-launching it, they need to start from scratch.
So at the super-secure research bunker at Gaydon 'Project ICON' is underway.
Initial speculation indicates that the new vehicle will use the same T5 chassis platform as the current Discovery and RR Sport, but will be released just at the time when the Disco moves on to another, much lighter all aluminium platform.
Although the twin-rail steel chassis carries an additional 500kg weight handicap compared to the alloy frames it does allow Land Rover to retain the meccano like versatility that the Defender is most valued for as it allows myriad configurations unavailable anywhere else in the motoring world.
The one main departure for the new Defender will be the independent suspension format of the T5 chassis. Beam Axles are likely to be consigned to the history books but it does offer the ability to utilise both simple springs and full air suspension options depending on intended use.
Land Rover will undoubtably develop the new Defender in the UK and early vehicles will be built here but it is a well known fact that parent company, TATA, are keen to move vehicle manufacturing to other locations. Jaguar Land Rover bosses are already working on plans to create a CKD system (completely knocked down) whereby the vehicles are effectively flat-packed and sent to other plants to be built.
E MAIS TRETA PARA LER...
Next Generation Defender concept is unveiled at Frankfurt Show
Just a month after Land Rover's Managing Director, Colin Green, suggested, in an interview, that there was a chance that the Defender model could be killed altogether, a concept for the next generation Defender is to be unveiled at Frankfurt Motor Show.
Green was quoted as having said, 'Another option [in replacing the current Defender] is that we abandon that section of the market. Its our least preferred choice, because we have serviced that customer base for a long time, but theres no point in servicing the customer and not the business. We have to make money and all three options are on the table.'
This is an image of the concept car that Land Rover will be showing at Frankfurt. Land Rover has said that it intends to produce a new Defender in 2015 but this is four years away - such a car does not exist at present. The concept being shown for the first time at Frankfurt is designed to gauge reaction and encourage debate about what a new Defender should, as John Edwards says in his quote, 'Meet the requirements of a new global market,'
Update 07.30hrs; Land Rover also confirms today, that production of a new Defender is globally intended for 2015, with no current decision on whether or not the next generation Defender will come to the North American markets. Commenting on the Land Rover DC100 concept car, Gerry McGovern, Director of Design, Land Rover said, 'Replacing the iconic Defender is one of the biggest challenges in the automotive design world; it is a car that inspires people worldwide. This isn't a production-ready concept but the beginning of a four-year journey to design a relevant Defender for the 21st century.'
John Edwards, Global Brand Director, Land Rover added, 'Loved the world over for its simple, honest and distinctive design, we are determined that the new Defender will be true to its heritage, while meeting the requirements of a changing global market. We plan to engage with existing and potential customers to help us finalize the details of the new vehicle. One thing's for sure, it's going to be an exciting journey, and we can't wait to get going,' added Edwards.
The Land Rover DC100 concept builds upon the essential elements of the car's character and allows Land Rover to open the debate and inspire people to dream about the Defenders of the future. The next chapter in the Defender story will unfold at 09:15 hrs (CET) on September 13, 2011 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Conversas e opinioes a parte, a Laurentino Robalo e' marca lider (perfeita ou nao, eficaz ou nao)...
Uma coisa e' certa se foi pelos seus produtos que atraiu no passado a clientela...podera ser pelos seus produtos que "afugenta" a mesma clientela.
Nem todos vao poder sentar o traseiro num EVOQUE.
Quanto menos carregar palha num utilitario que de utilitario so herdou o nome.
Nao e' ser retrogado nem "pra frentex" que ate o sou em muitos casos...
Mas um reality check e' preciso.
A enorme marca Laurentino Robalo podia perfeitamente manter a linha "defender" como ICON da marca...
"brincar" com um ICON desta maneira pode acabar como demonstram as fotos que se seguem...a meter agua ou no charco
Pois muitos dos actuais clientes Defender confirmam que preferem manter-se dentro da linha "defender" conhecida....com mais ou menos berlicoques...sao bastante tradicionalistas os "camones"...a nao ser que seja para "os estranjas"...e este novo defender seja para consumo "fora de inglaterra"...nao "cola" la muito bem com a clientela local...
Mas talvez seja um jipe com linhas em estilo de equipamento lunar...
e bem sei que cada vez mais as linhas "fluidas" imperam...mas a verdade verdadinha e' que muito pessoal ainda gosta das linhas quadradonas e geometricas de muitos jipes como os UMM e Defenders e outros.
So as vendas ditarao o futuro da coisa...mas a Laurentino Robalo tem bagagem e estofo para aguentar a pancada...
embora nos dias que correm "correr riscos" assim...nao fica la muito bem...
No fundo no fundo e' o "novo patrao TATA" a tentar mostrar que esta na "aldeia Laurentino Robalo" e quer fazer ser notada a sua presenca...os verdadeiros aficionados a marca nao vem com bons olhos este "ataque" a um ICON da marca...estarao a ser puristas de mais?
Carlos Pires
