Unfortunately farming is not one of these markets and nor is the average country dweller no matter what country they live in.
They are developing their brand and from a marketing stand point are staying with their 'core values' in order to survive. You can't blame them.
Just look at the cosmetic changes to MY09... nothing to do with off road ability - all to do with taming the look down in order to appeal to more urban purchasers. It still does what any other D3 has always been able to do.
Moving up market with the looks, interior design and with material choice will further advance this for them.
I would lay bets that a MY10 D3/D4 would still do what our D3's can do, maybe better if they've further enhanced Terrain Response and reliability (although in the main its a very reliable vehicle these days).
No doubt the retail price will increase too... but thats life.
17th Mar 2009 8:05 pm
stapldm
Member Since: 11 Sep 2006
Location: Swine Town
Posts: 2330
simon wrote:
So why bother with it at all then ?
Any chance the new lump needs its air supply from the other side of the car? Putting a hole each side makes engine air routing easier perhaps?Dr. Ian Malcolm:
"Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
Transgenic tomato anyone?
17th Mar 2009 8:16 pm
Zermatt Vulgaris
Member Since: 12 Jan 2009
Location: aberdeenshire
Posts: 511
Simon,
I think i agree with everything you've said however credibility needs to be a strong part of that upmarket image, something i think they need to pay a little more attention to particularly considering the loss of G4 and similar marketing tools.
The problem with pushing the D3 upmarket is how much higher can they push the FFRR ?Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
2011MY Zermatt Silver Range Rover Sport HSE 3.0 TDV6
17th Mar 2009 8:39 pm
Verydisco
Member Since: 02 Jan 2005
Location: A bit there, a bit over there and sometime at home, France
Posts: 1006
simon wrote:
They are all made by Land Rover (the company) and RR is a sub brand
For now ... Hope this continues
stornoway grey wrote:
I have a concern that the Land Rover brand is fast disapearing under the Range Rover One.
Same feeling, will know more around April 1st, but it really sounds like it
stornoway grey wrote:
Simon,
The problem with pushing the D3 upmarket is how much higher can they push the FFRR ?
They will/need to go to the 100/150 000 USD market. Period.l=Oo\________/oO=l l:Ool======loO:l
Current
RANGE ROVER Vogue 4.4L TDV8 - 2012 - Orkney Grey, on Black, on Piano Black.
RANGE ROVER Vogue 4.4L V8 - 2002 - ex-2003 G4 Challenge Event Vehicle, Stage 3: Australia
FREELANDER 2 Td4 HSE "000" - Santorinin Black on Black
Gap Diagnostics' Classic and BT IID Tools!
Previous:
RANGE ROVER TDV8 x3
RANGE ROVER Td6 x1
RANGE ROVER Classic 3.5L V8 x1
DISCOVERY III x3
DISCOVERY II x3
DISCOVERY I x4
17th Mar 2009 8:57 pm
Jonty
Member Since: 13 Oct 2007
Location: On the beach
Posts: 417
stapldm wrote:
simon wrote:
So why bother with it at all then ?
Any chance the new lump needs its air supply from the other side of the car? Putting a hole each side makes engine air routing easier perhaps?
No, it's purely cosmetic - only one side is a real vent, just like the current RRS.
17th Mar 2009 9:06 pm
Jonty
Member Since: 13 Oct 2007
Location: On the beach
Posts: 417
stornoway grey wrote:
.......... the problem with this move away from its roots is that the market they are leaving is being filled by Toyota et al. I work a good deal in the Middle East and the only Landies you see are pose mobiles. the real stuff is done in Hi-Luxes and LandCruisers........
The only reason for that is LR's reliabilty vs Toyota and Mitsubishi, although the D3 has been getting better over time. The same thing happened in most of Africa and Australia, LR got complacent and lost a huge share of the market going back more than 20 years ago. I know we all bash Toyotas (at least I do lol) but quality wise, the 75-series Landcruisers are miles ahead of the Defender in all areas. For serious work where reliabilty can make the difference between life and death, I'd grudgingly choose a Landcruiser over a Defender.
That's why I hope the next generation don't have too much untested or poorly integrated technology - just get them reliable and rebuilld the reputation for toughness that LR once had.
As far as the D4 is concerned, the better and more stylish it looks, the better - as long as the off-road abilty is the same or improved. Shiny bodywork is no detriment to ability.
17th Mar 2009 9:17 pm
RR38HANS
Member Since: 22 Jul 2008
Location: BRUGES
Posts: 179
Land Rover will never compromise their off road capabilities and will aim to out perform every competitor in its segment off road but will never be the fastest on tarmac.
D3 and future D4 will move to current FFRR territory.
Future FFRR will move to a up to now new non existing Bentley image 4X4 level
Future 7 seater FL2 based model will move just under D4.
LRX badged as a RR is a landrover intrepretation of a scaled down X6 crossover with a price that will be close to current D3 prices.
Using the RR BADGE was the only way to justify its high price.
think of it as a FL2 in a pretty dress, like a RRsport is a D3 in a pretty dress.
FL2 & RRsport will more or less stay in their segment with added luxury.05 TDV6 HSE AUTO 7seats, tonga green/alpaca, alpine roof, privacy glass, tow kit, wood kit, 20" stormers n summer, 18" in winter, fancy exhausts, rear seat ent., club fooked turbo!
RANGE ROVER 1995 SOFTDASH (sold)
RANGE ROVER 1997 P38 (sold)
TRIUMPH TR6 OD
LOTUS EXCEL SE
AUDI A2 TDI
17th Mar 2009 11:20 pm
748scratcher
Member Since: 19 May 2008
Location: Brough
Posts: 214
Looks like they have registered the test vehicles as Commercial vehicles, thats why the road tax is only £185!
18th Mar 2009 10:59 am
TallPaul
Member Since: 03 Jan 2008
Location: Near Reading
Posts: 1214
748scratcher wrote:
Looks like they have registered the test vehicles as Commercial vehicles, thats why the road tax is only £185!
Yes, usual government, one rule for one, one for another... looks very non-commercial to me, seems to have non-blanked rear windows for a start...
20th Mar 2009 12:32 pm
Verydisco
Member Since: 02 Jan 2005
Location: A bit there, a bit over there and sometime at home, France
Posts: 1006
About that, I find strange the tinted windows layout, the sides are tinted, could be factory tint, but the rear window isn't.
alright, just my 2 cents.l=Oo\________/oO=l l:Ool======loO:l
Current
RANGE ROVER Vogue 4.4L TDV8 - 2012 - Orkney Grey, on Black, on Piano Black.
RANGE ROVER Vogue 4.4L V8 - 2002 - ex-2003 G4 Challenge Event Vehicle, Stage 3: Australia
FREELANDER 2 Td4 HSE "000" - Santorinin Black on Black
Gap Diagnostics' Classic and BT IID Tools!
Previous:
RANGE ROVER TDV8 x3
RANGE ROVER Td6 x1
RANGE ROVER Classic 3.5L V8 x1
DISCOVERY III x3
DISCOVERY II x3
DISCOVERY I x4
In a way that makes sense for some models. A lot of people I know refer to my "Range Rover", including some who, through their ownership of Defenders, ought to know better. Not sure they'll carry it off with the FL2 though, good car though it is, I don't see it convincing anyone it fits into the luxury branding without some serious rework on engines and interior trim.
They need to be careful how they pitch the change. Rover famously replaced the old common platform cheese-wedge 200/400 models with a small hatchback 200 and a hatch/saloon 400. Originally the new 200 (later the 25) had been intended to be sold as a 100, replacing the Metro, but the bean counters saw a chance to try and move the car and pricing upmarket, retaining the old metro in a series of cosmetic upgrades.
We all know what happened to Rover.I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
20th Mar 2009 1:41 pm
Verydisco
Member Since: 02 Jan 2005
Location: A bit there, a bit over there and sometime at home, France
Posts: 1006
DiscoDad wrote:
From the grapevine....
....after September, there will only be one vehicle branded as 'Land Rover'.
All other vehicles, some existing some not, will come under the 'Range Rover' banner.
It does make sense in a marketing point of view, I the short term though
watering down the RR name will only lead to a brand as strong/weak as LR is today.
If it can make LR Limited go through the crisis and prepare new terrains for its products down the line, may it be
keep in mind they are only selling products, and that WE buy Land Rovers and the image sold with theml=Oo\________/oO=l l:Ool======loO:l
Current
RANGE ROVER Vogue 4.4L TDV8 - 2012 - Orkney Grey, on Black, on Piano Black.
RANGE ROVER Vogue 4.4L V8 - 2002 - ex-2003 G4 Challenge Event Vehicle, Stage 3: Australia
FREELANDER 2 Td4 HSE "000" - Santorinin Black on Black
Gap Diagnostics' Classic and BT IID Tools!
Previous:
RANGE ROVER TDV8 x3
RANGE ROVER Td6 x1
RANGE ROVER Classic 3.5L V8 x1
DISCOVERY III x3
DISCOVERY II x3
DISCOVERY I x4
20th Mar 2009 1:49 pm
Paul J.
Member Since: 09 Dec 2005
Location: Leafy Cheshire
Posts: 7426
Facelifted D3
Overheard a conversation is a dealership yesterday.
'New' D3 - same bodyshell, revised front & rear, upgraded interior, 3-litre engine etc nothing new on this forum!
...but the man also said that it would be revealed on the 6th? April at a motorshow, a HSE would be £48K, the first models to 'look' at will be in the dealership by mid July, ready for release on to the road on 9th August ...
I might be a day or two out with those dates, but that is the gist of what I heard.
PaulAn ex-Disco3 / FFRR owner ......
..... now on the JLR electric highway.
22nd Mar 2009 1:51 pm
SN
Member Since: 03 Jan 2006
Location: Romiley
Posts: 13710
Heard all the same yesterday Steve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history)
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