Last year, we reported on how British chemical company Ineos had approached Land Rover, asking for permission to build a copy of its now-deceased Defender. Land Rover responded unequivocally, stating, “There is no way this is happening.”
Hold on, not so fast there.
Seemingly unfazed by Land Rover’s rejection, Ineos founder Jim Ratcliffe was very positive when speaking to Autocar in 2016:
“I am a great admirer of the Land Rover Defender and I think it can be upgraded to be the world’s best and most rugged off-roader.”
In a recent Autocar report, however, Ineos has seemingly changed tack. The company has now relayed a vision for a Defender-inspired vehicle, featuring a diesel, hybrid, or possibly all-electric powertrain. The current production date target is 2020, with volume projected at 15,000 units per year.
According to Ineos director Tom Crotty, the inspired new SUV will have a traditional chassis and be fairly low-tech. Crotty also explained, “[The model] will be extremely high quality and extremely reliable.” (Perhaps Ineos didn’t go quite so Defender-inspired, after all.)
Between now and the 2020 production date, Ineos needs to develop and finalize a design, as well as build a brand-new factory.
As the Jeep Wrangler proves year after year, there’s certainly a market for a rugged, simplistic off-road vehicle. Ineos plans to market the new SUV to the United States, Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa. An estimated price starting at £25,000 (just over $31,000 U.S. dollars as of writing) would seem within reach for many consumers seeking a simple vehicle for serious off road use.
Watch this space for further developments from Ineos, as it seem to have quite an uphill climb between now and 2020.
[Image: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)]
A.) How could you possibly build it for that price?
B.) If Land Rover said “No effin’ way.” How can it be built without Ineos being sued out of existence?
Because INSPIRED!
A) If they take an off-the-shelf drivetrain from somewhere the $30k is low, but might not be crazy. Think of a stripped down off-road spec with vinyl seats/top, no carpet, no airbags, etc.
B) Because patents (even design patents) only last 20 years. So they could take the Defender design from 1997 and copy it directly. Changing the design enough to get around copyright (to creative parts of the design) is trivial.
Thank you Eric.
Here’s hoping for vinyl seats, steel wheels, rubber floors, manual 4wd/trans/accessories, diesel engine, solid axle front/rear.
Build it, they will come. Offering a wide variety of powertrain combinations is brilliant.
If they leave out airbags etc, then it would be off-road only, ne? That would seem to restrict its market considerably. It probably doesn’t need to be a good daily driver, but it should be something which can go between home and off-road areas without needing a trailer and tow vehicle.
But then you couldn’t sell it as a passenger car in the US, and then it’s a too-expensive toy. That wouldn’t work.
I don’t think airbags are required in the UK. They may also be able to sell 325 a year here thru the small volume exemption.
I doubt the kind of popcan thickness and weight superstructure that made the Defender such a “great” off roader, would pass too many contemporary crash tests to begin with. The bet may be that the Defender appeals to enough people with clout, to fudge things on the back of Brexiting national pride…
Anyway, modern Defender heirs needs to be made for Africa and/or thereabouts. In thereabouts. By people who daily drive thereabouts. Currently working British auto engineers and workers, no longer have even a vague memory of having colonies in places where such cars may make sense.
They won’t be able to use the Defender name.
They can try Defenseman, ehy?
Good thinking. Being British they also could go for Attacker or Midfielder.
*sigh*
Look at those gorgeous sidewalls.
Yes, balloon tires for every car. 180/75/R14 on a 2017 Malibu! And tiny brake rotors that overheat and warp easily to make them fit!!!! 350′ stopping distance is awesome! At least it’ll drive like a 1988 Cutlass Ciera, the way GOOD cars drive!
WOOOOOOOT!
I need Metamucil and an Ensure, stat!
According to Motorweek, the ’84 Cutlass Ciera Diesel stopped from 55 in 125′ with some rear lockup and axle hop.
The last car with 180/75R14 tires had a V7 engine and a typographical map in the nav system.
Don’t forget the Depends for the trifecta of geezerhood.
An SUV with skinny sidewalls is no SUV.
Amen. And skinny sidewalls are yet another tool of Satan who delights in and feeds upon our pain.
I’m looking at you Yukon Denali with available factory 22 in rims…
I talked to a dealer about ordering a Yukon Denali, but with the 18-inch SLT wheels instead of the blingy 22s. The salesman looked at me like I had a mental problems.
“Why would you want to downgrade to the 18s?”
“Because ride comfort is more important than bling factor”
Followed by more confused looks from the salesman.
Plus it keeps thieves from assaulting your ride.
It seems like a few cosmetic changes could bring this proposed new vehicle out of “infringing on trade dress” jeopardy. All of these vehicles, the Defender, the Wranger, and the Toyota FJ 40 Land Cruiser have exterior designs that are almost purely functional.
The bigger question is how much regulatory requirements will drive up the vehicle cost to the point where a small volume competitor (lacking access to a large volume manufacturer’s parts bin) can meet a reasonable price point.
The other question is how much unfilled demand is there for such a vehicle. The current Toyota Land Crusher isn’t anything like its FJ40 ancestor.
Well used values of Defenders are insane in North America so there may be some market.
Calling ICON 4×4! Calling ICON 4×4! You are needed in the lobby…
They do FJ40 rebuilds and upgrades, as well as Bronco and custom jobs. I would imagine they could be the perfect candidates to take existing “pre-owned” Defenders and make them into darned near anything. Could they ship them legally to GB?
Disclaimer:: I spend a lot of time drooling at their Instagram feed. If only I had written an app…there’s always Vegas?
ICON stuff is expensive. One might as well buy a Mercedes-Maybach G650 Landaulet.
Some one already does. East Coast Rover
http://eastcoastrover.com/
They should call Sergio and get the tooling for the Iveco Massif.
Land Rover planning on releasing a redesign Defender in 2019! Suppose to at the high end expensive! Same price as the Range Rover is!