New Land Rover Defender SVX - FAIL

[Dubmodder]

I like the Land Rover series - good, honest 4x4's that look good and do what it says on the tin. They may not be as luxurious as a Range Rover or G-Wagen but they are solid (when not rotten), reliable, strong and honest.


Defender c1990


Facelift c1998 (paint mainly)


SVX Concept c1999

Back in 1999 Land Rover decided a facelift for the Defender range was needed and employed the in house design team to tighten up the styling with 'noughties' features - replacing the rugged, but dated '90s style we all know and love. This was the SVX Concept.

It was a long time in development but the concept vehicle looked good, moderner, tighter and simpler lines and new paint made it look a bit tougher but more up to date. I loved the look of it and still do today.

Imagine my dismay (I was gutted) to see the production version looking similar, but kind of overthought and cack handed in it's execution with a lame grille and stupid 'eyebrows' round all the lights. It looks heavy and something they have done makes it look low and squashed.


Defender SVX c2010

I hate the new look and think the concept was perfect as an evolutionary step. This looks clumsy by comparison with lame wheels and a dumb grille/lights setup. It reminds me of an old Toyota Landcruiser/Ford Bronco hybrid lovechild from the '60s instead of the iconic Defender.


Bronco


Land Cruiser

It's also not got half the arch to wheel clearance making it look like a softroader. I think they screwed up with this one and have lost the identity of the car in this restyle. It's almost like the Barbie toy version - similar, resembles the car but odd where it counts. Was it designed by an American for the US market? The Defender is due to be relaunched there soon.

What do YOU think?

[OllieWestwood]

Bar a new front grill....looks exactly the same

bet it still goes where most cant!

[Dubmodder]

My hates are:

- the grille setup, does it need those hideous eyelid things? Looks like Dame Ednas glasses on it

- the bonnet bulge on bulge? WTF is that for? To hide an engine that doesn't fit perhaps like the old MG had (that looked cock).

- the lame ground clearance. The arches were moved up on the concept and it looked better for it.

- side repeaters. They'll get broke if used in anger.

I think LR have done some of this to make it comply with regs for America. All well and good but most cars that were 'redesigned' for the US look utter cock if you look back over time.

MGB (chrome bumpers binned, big black rubber uglies fitted)
Lotus Esprit - more rubber uglies
VW Golf - bigger bumpers, square lights

[Pyrotechnic]

It really doesn't look that bad to me at all.

Grille is just modernised to match the rest of the Land/Range Rover range.

I know the first buldge was to take the new 2.4 Ford engine the other year, no idea what the second one is for on the SVX though.

Arches are the same as the previous ones.

They all had/have side repeaters too.