The Land Rover Defender Will Return To The US – At Over $55,000
The Land Rover Defender is to make a return to the US when its new incarnation finally arrives in 2020. The model was taken off sale in 1997 but sources at the British brand have confirmed that the all-new, platform-sharing Defender will reverse that decision following a teaser last week.
What’s more, the replacement for the iconic 4x4 is already in America, preparing for its gruelling testing regime that aims to earn the new car a place as the most versatile off-road vehicle in the world.
It will reportedly share the Modular Longitudinal Architecture chassis that will underpin the next Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Discovery and should indicate independent suspension all round. The new platform is also built specifically to accept plug-in hybrid and electric drivetrains as well as combustion engines.
Robust traditional off-road tech will include a low-range gearbox and multiple differential locks. It will be interesting to see whether Land Rover makes these heavy but reliable mechanical items or lighter but potentially more temperamental electronically-controlled ones.
The pricing may come as a shock to fans of the old Defender, though. Ten years ago in the UK some models had risen as high as £30,000 ($37,900) and there were plenty of eyebrows raised at that. Accusations of gentrification were rife. Reports suggest that the new one will start north of $55,000 – about double what a base-spec Ford F-150 costs.
This is despite rumours that Land Rover will shift production to Slovakia, where wages are a fraction of those in the UK, in order to lower production costs. That’s yet to be confirmed and we’ll update you next time there’s anything significant to report.
Source: Motor Authority
Comments
Heres to praying that yes, that camo does make it look fat…
Weird fled but ok
The Defender name is coming back, but the Defender is dead. This new one will just be another premium SUV for people who want a status symbol.
Maybe in America
So what? How is that a problem? Is there a police for controlling what people should like and what people should do with their stuff? If there’s a demand, then there will be a supply. People ask for SUVs, carmakers create SUVs. How is that a problem? SUVs have been existing for decades and probably the first modern luxury SUV, the Cayenne, came over 15 years ago. This is absolutely nothing new and it’s not a trend or anything, it’s just what people want. If people want a premium SUV to go only on the road, then give them one. It’s not going to increase the value of other cars or going to reduce the amount of other cars.
UTilITAriAn
Please, don’t let it be just a squarer Discovery
I’m almost certain it will be, unfortunately
Where is the ground clearance?????
Already clearance seems shit. Looks like independent suspension and that plastic panel is useless… The defender is not what it used to be.
I expected something more like a new g wagon this looks like some bullshit
I already miss the good profile shape, when it was a moving brick.
Boxi?