I think that catering to multiple audiences is good for all of us. I will take my CE across a muddy field but would never put it through what some of you guys will. I admire you all that use your defender for its intended purpose. I like the defender for its looks and capability. i also love the sound of the V8 and it has some awesome mid level umph. I am likely a buyer of this new higher level and more powerful defender. Why? Just because. Assuming it has the BMW TTV8 which I have owned two of and they are amazing engines. Can’t wait to see one in person but i am guessing that’s a year away.

 

The much I love the cars, the looks, the LAND ROVER brand, the much I dislike what there currently doing with there precious heritage. The pinnacle of it all, is this extremely pointless square in a circle "thing" that obviously (at least in some places) kills the beloved and iconic Land Rover badge by recycling the 90's Mazda logo - what a shame!

 

FWIW...Jaguar/Land Rover is the parent company. The Land Rover family re-organized their branding structure a few years ago, and now has three distinct "brands"...Range Rover, Defender, and Discovery. Thus the hood badging over the last few years. Its also how things are arranged on their website.

 

I was told tonight I'm on the list for the Edition One. Anyone else get a call?

 

Price?

TBH if it's anything like the new SVR or whatever they call it, no way in hell. That is over 200. I had an old SVR and it was just over 100. There is zero chance I would buy a 200K defender when a GT3 is literally less than that. And I'd rather have a GT3.

We can hope for a reasonable price.

 

No price, but at msrp.

 

Dealer called to offer me one yesterday. I told him to put my name on it pending pricing info when it is released. He's guessing around $145kish msrp.

 

At the dealers yesterday. Showroom empty and lots of construction. I was told dealership need to remodel to fit Land Rover market definition - Range Rover, Discovery, and Defender. This dealer also dumped Jaguar.

 

Different wheel and tire combinations shown during testing:

 

^^^ Nice! I just did Poison Spider twice two weeks ago. It was probably my 9th and 10th time running that trail (It's beautiful, tough, and right outside of town). I had driven my Defender out from Atlanta (P400, 18" wheel, stock size Cooper Discoverer Rugged Trail tires), but 55 miles from Moab it died on me and had to be flatbedded to Colorado (DETAILS). But as I was doing Poison Spider in my rental Wrangler on 37s, I reflected that I simply wouldn't have brought the Defender on that trail. Not enough articulation, too much chance of major cruches on the rockers and on the rear bodywork when dropping off of higher ledges. If I was fully armored (rock sliders on the sides and aftermarket aluminum skids) I'd have had a go. I don't doubt a Defender on stock tire sizes could do the trail but I fear it would take some hits.

But maybe not. The smallest tires I've done it with were KM2s in 34" (285/75-17) on a JK Wrangler. It worked, but I was glad I had the rock sliders and diff skids. When I got back to Atlanta I upgraded to 37" (which is a big upgrade because of the suspension you need to run to properly use 37s.) Subsequent trips made short work of that trail.