Report: Land Rover reportedly axes basic and super-rugged Defender successor in favor of a “premium” model
Land Rover has been on a watchful eye as the brand figures out what to do with its ancient, but thoroughly tried, tested, and true, Defender SUV that is essentially a modernized version of the first Land Rover ever, the Series I. Considering the Defender’s grandiose and historic achievement as being one of the ultimate go-anywhere SUVs from the factory, this needs little explanation.
That said, Land Rover has also been careful with how to proceed with the Defender replacement. In a developing report from AutoCarUK word is that Land Rover has decided to completely scrap the idea of a basic, super-rugged off-roader.
AutoCarUK apparently heard from Land Rover’s global brand director, John Edwards, who confirmed that the new Defender won’t reach the projected production launch date of 2015. Though the current Defender will still be axed due to the “impossibility of meeting future legislation.”
Rumors pointed at the use of Jaguar-Land Rover’s new PLA modular architecture. Though now, instead of offering a basic off-roader as the Defender successor, Land Rover is just planning a “premium Defender” replacement, which will ride alongside the future and expanded Discovery line.
Additionally, AutoCarUK learned that the reason why Land Rover has decided to reportedly axe the future concept of a basic Defender successor is due to the fact that Jaguar-Land Rover’s current parent, India-based Tata Motors, is being more conscientious about their future health as an automaker.
– By: Chris Chin
Source: AutoCarUK