There are plenty of classic car models that petrolheads will refer to time and time again: the classic ‘gullwing’ Mercedes 300 SL, a Nissan Skyline, the Shelby Cobra, the Land Rover Defender and plenty more. It’s that last one we’ll be focusing on today. The mighty Land Rover. It’s had a lot of troubles, and like the roads that this beast of a four by four is used to, it hasn’t always been a smooth path.
The Land Rover Defender is the most famous Land Rover model, for plenty of reasons – it was a car associated with the military and good old fashioned hard work. The world-famous offroader can be seen the world over, but due to emissions regulations and other restrictions, the old car just wasn’t working. The Defender would not meet conditions, and thus, production was shut down. For all intents and purposes, the Land Rover Defender was dead. Or is it?
The Land Rover is everything to everyone; it’s a luxury ‘Chelsea Tank’ paraded around the streets of Mayfair, it’s the car that will see you through the Yorkshire Moors. Luxury or industry – the Land Rover has uses in all areas. That’s why it is worth ensuring that any issues are looked over by Land Rover repair specialists suited to dealing with these unique cars. Land Rover issues and problems are rare, but you shouldn’t send this car into any old shop, no. It needs a unique mechanic for a unique car. There aren’t many unique cars around anymore! A car with plenty of uses and models for all users centres around the hub of the Defender – the iconic model that makes Land Rover what it is.
It was just last year that the final LRD model rolled off the production line after 67 years of constant production, but it could be on the way back, if new concepts come to fruition. In fact, if everything goes to plan – the Defender could be back, in some shape, by next year. An new and upgraded car, under the Defender brand, could be back in action. We’ll expect it to have a more modernised – sleek – look, but still keep that Defender ‘box’ shape. What’s important is how it performs. The Defender is known for dealing with all manner of terrain – if the new Defender isn’t up to the task, what’s the point of it? The Defender DNA needs to be rich in this new version – and Land Rover bosses have said that the new car will be full of it. However, a big question remains: How will Land Rover ensure that it meets emissions targets? It will need a lot of power, and that usually comes from a lot of fuel usage. It’s a conundrum, but it’s in the right hands.
The Defender had a classic look, but a lot of Land Rovers are moved to upmarket buyers, and while the Defender looked classic, it didn’t exactly look luxurious! Expect the new Defender to look easy on the eye. Ideally, that won’t sacrifice the performance though. If the performance of the new Defender is sacrificed, this is all rather pointless. We’d all rather the Defender stay dead and buried if the new model doesn’t live up to the name.
