Last Defender off the Line Today

[Red90]

Soft top in Keswick Green and will be owned by Roger Crathorne.

[headdamage]

Sad  :(

[Matt H]

It's now official. Land Rover no longer make anything I'd care to buy.

At one time I would have been thrilled to be able to buy any Land Rover model available.......then the Freelander came out and since then LR have killed off or changed beyond recognition all those great vehicles.

[Red90]

They have been hinting at continuing production in India for less stringent markets.

[binch]

I have it on very good authority that the defender will be built again by a certain company in Austria whose name begins with 'S' and are responsible for building the G wagon and Pinzguar.    The vehicles themselves will not be built in Austria but the company is there. 8)

[Matt H]

Land Rover just made a deal to build a factory in Slovakia due to come on line in 2018. But it is rumoured that it is going to be able to produce 300,000 units a year so I don't think it will be building old Defenders for third world nations.

[binch]

Yeah, I don't think it will be the same defender....but at least there's hope for the future. ;)

[Red90]

http://www.lro.com/news/land-rover/1505/defender-production-could-move-to-india/
http://indianautosblog.com/2015/01/land-rover-defender-production-to-move-out-of-the-uk-163761

I don't see anything anywhere indicating the Slovakia plant or the Steyr deal have anything to do with the continuation of the current model.  I'm pretty sure they would need to push the production outside of the EU to prevent regulatory problems.

This one says the new model will be built in Slovakia, which is most likely the reason it is taking so long to come out.  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3193382/New-generation-Land-Rover-Defender-4x4-favoured-Queen-built-Slovakia.html

[Red90]

Assembly today.

[binch]

 :'(

[Red90]

http://www.lro.com/news/land-rover/1601/solihull-to-begin-restoration-of-older-land-rovers/

[Red90]

Final pics.  Note the registration number.

[Red90]

First production Land Rover.

[binch]

What  sad day.......    But what have they got around the corner that they are keeper a very close secret...... ::)

[Red90]

What  sad day.......    But what have they got around the corner that they are keeper a very close secret...... ::)

It will be like an FJ Cruiser is to a Land Cruiser....  It will sort of look a bit like the old versions, but the stuff underneath will not be fabulous.

Some people have seen test mules that have RRS bodies on the new Defender platforms.  Looks like all independent suspension.  Probably similar drivetrain and suspension to the current lineup.  I would expect the body to have some tie back to the old models and most likely room for larger tires.  All at a stupid price.