I hope they come to their senses soon and realize that people are not going to want thirsty V8's forever. Diesel technology now is at the point where they could easily create a diesel that rivals the V8 in power, and gets awesome economy. It worked in the UK with the TDi. I would kill to have 30 MPG in my rover, and the simplicity of a 4 cyl diesel. I'm surprised that they are not moving forward with hybrid technology since the Ford takeover. Now that the US has surpassed the UK as Land Rovers single biggest market maybe they will start to cater to more of us, like they do in the UK, by offering the entire lineup, including defender. If the new defender turns out to be 1/4 as complex and upscale as the rest of the range, I fear they will have lost their heritage almost completely. The fact that they are focusing more attention in the US now means they will focus less and less on producing the type of vehicle like the defender, which carries with it over 50 years of working heritage all over the world. If the new defender can not cope with the niche that the current defender fills around the world, they will become just like all the other once proud automotive names who have lost touch with their roots.
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"A deep respect for tradition allows vision for liberation from stagnation."
Colin's Toys:
1972 Series III 88"
1997 Discovery XD
1993 RRC (Gone to a better place, goodbye old friend)
1983 Stage 1 109"
2002 Trek 4500
2005 Necky Looksha Sport
2007 Rans Rocket
2007 Honda Ruckus
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