Tracker announces that the Defender from Land Rover has seen a 75% increase in thefts since production ceased.

• TRACKER joins NFU Mutual in urging owners to boost their vehicle security
• www.tracker.co.uk

Shocking new statistics from NFU Mutual, reveal that thefts of Land Rover Defenders have increased by a staggering 75%, as gangs of thieves target rural areas to swipe vehicles.   The Defender ceased production in January, which has led to a significant rise in demand for the car and its parts.  

Backing NFU Mutual’s campaign to warn Land Rover owners to be vigilant, TRACKER, the UK’s leading stolen vehicle recovery (SVR) provider, adds that many of these stolen vehicles are being shipped overseas, and urges owners to fit a tracking device before they disappear for good, as recommended by NFU Mutual. 

Police forces across the UK are reporting a rise in thefts, with many fearing that criminal gangs with links to the US and Eastern Europe are targeting owners.   

Land Rover Defender owners are being advised to improve their security by investing several layers of protection, including trackers, alarms and steering-wheel locks.  NFU Mutual is also advising owners to mark components with paint and to keep vehicles locked up or parked in well-lit areas.  

Following this advice will substantially increase the chances of these classic 4x4s being located and recovered.

Adrian Davenport, Police Liaison Manager for TRACKER, part of the Tantalum Corporation, says, “Criminal gangs often target particular vehicles when demand increases and the Land Rover Defender is a popular vehicle all around the globe. 

Not surprisingly, since they’ve been discontinued, the Defender has risen to the top of the car thief’s hit list, with the northeast, southwest and the midlands reported to be where the highest number of insurance claims are being made.

“Owners of Defenders tend to live in rural areas, so well-lit parking isn’t always possible, making it vital that people ensure they take ample security measures.  

A tracking device won’t stop a car being stolen, but it can significantly increase the chance of police locating and returning a vehicle to its owners. 

Without a TRACKER fitted, Land Rover Defenders can be hidden in containers without detection and shipped abroad by organised criminal gangs who will make a tidy profit.  Don’t make it easy for thieves, fit a TRACKER device to help police close the net on the criminals.”

TRACKER’s SVR systems work like an electronic homing device. A covert transmitter is hidden in one of several dozen places around the vehicle, and there is no visible aerial, so the thief won’t even know it’s there.

Unlike any other provider of SVR devices, some TRACKER products combines GSM, GPS and VHF technology, and its use of VHF technology makes it resilient to ‘jamming’, creating the most robust SVR device available.   

Jamming devices, readily available on the internet, are increasingly being used by car thieves to disrupt GPS signals so that the police are unable to track and locate stolen vehicles fitted with SVR devises that rely on GPS alone.

Adrian Davenport concludes:  “We strongly advise Land Rover Defender owners to choose a system that provides a more resilient solution and, better still, one that delivers multiple means of location and communication. TRACKER’s SVR systems use unique VHF technology, offering motorists effective safeguards against theft, even if the GPS does fail.”

Jaguar Land Rover announces rebranded Jaguar Land Rover Classic business, for parts, service, hiring and more.

• Jaguar Land Rover announces rebranded Jaguar Land Rover Classic business
• Formerly known as Jaguar Land Rover Heritage, the new business will provide classic cars, services, parts and experiences
• Renaming of business division better reflects Jaguar Land Rover’s capabilities and expertise

Jaguar Land Rover is delighted to announce the renaming of its Heritage business to Jaguar Land Rover Classic. The rebranded division will continue to provide cars, services, parts and experiences for Classic Jaguars and Land Rovers and their owners.

Tim Hannig, Director, Jaguar Land Rover Classic, said: “Renaming the rapidly growing global business to Jaguar Land Rover Classic best reflects the division’s overall capabilities in providing the best cars, services, parts and experiences for our customers. We aim to build an even more successful future by celebrating and nurturing Jaguar and Land Rover’s past.”

Jaguar Land Rover Classic can now accommodate full restorations of classic vehicles at its UK sites, as well as providing a repair and maintenance service for customers.

Jaguar Classic will continue to use the historic Browns Lane facility, where the six continuation Lightweight E-types were built and a newly developed Land Rover  Classic workshop at Solihull for the restoration of Land Rovers. Fully factory restored Jaguars and Land Rovers are now also available for purchase.

Jaguar Land Rover Classic Parts supplies genuine parts for models whose range has been out of production for over a decade. 

The parts catalogue has over 30,000 individual and guaranteed parts, available to order from Jaguar Land Rover’s global retail network. Specialist technical advisors have extensive product knowledge and selected parts are available to order on the day for collection at local retailers.

In addition to cars, services and parts, the Classic business also offers customers the opportunity to experience a selection of Jaguar and Land Rover’s most iconic models with Classic Drives. This is complemented by the second season of the Jaguar Classic Challenge race series for pre-1966 Jaguar models, which commences on 2 May 2016 at Donington Race Circuit in the UK.

Defender models see's pricing increases on the second hand market now the model has been discontinued.

Fans of the iconic Land Rover Defender who rushed to buy a piece of history are proving to have made a smart investment decision as prices soar. 

Automotive valuation specialists cap say good examples are demanding a huge premium over new list price. 

Commenting on the trend, John Watts, senior editor at Cap said: “We have already started to see an upward movement in trade values for Defender in general due to the anticipated demand and potential shortage following the cessation of production. Over the longer term we expect retail buyers to keep their vehicles longer because they know that finding a replacement will be nigh on impossible.

“Defender 90 versions are expected to be the highlight of the range since this model is closest to the original first production versions and Defender with a “premium” conversion will do exceptionally well.” 

Cap say a three year old Defender 90 Hard Top with 30,000 miles was valued at £11600 average trade price last June, and now the equivalent aged model is £12300. 

Dealers are demanding huge premiums for nearly new vehicles. 

A Land Rover Defender 90 2.2d 3 dr, with 1,000 miles on the clock, which cost £17,000 + VAT new, is now listed on Autotrader at £30,000. 

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Land Rover dealer Ross Munro, from LR Motors in North Yorkshire said: “Nearly new or pre-registred models of Defender are selling for 20% beyond list price and we are seeing some owners asking more. And with 75% of Defenders ever built still on the road, they could prove to be a smart move for investors or enthusiasts.”

Defender has attracted a thriving aftermarket with specialist companies such as Twisted producing enhanced vehicles with prices up to £150,000. 

Twisted say they have seen enquiries jump by 30%, with interest coming from business people and celebrities around the world.

The Land Rover Defender takes over the streets of London in this film to commemorate this iconic vehicle.

• Land Rover Defender taxi cab spotted on streets of London ahead of special Defender 2,000,000 charity auction at Bonhams on 16 December
• Specially modified Defender is part of nostalgic celebration film shot in the capital to commemorate 67 years of this iconic vehicle as it enters final phase of production
• Film precedes prestigious charity auction where collectors and Defender fans will be given the opportunity to own the Defender 2,000,000, a unique piece of Land Rover history
• Defender 2,000,000 on public display for Series Land Rover and Defender heritage exhibition at Bonhams London on 15 and 16 December

Londoners were delighted when they spotted a one-of-a-kind Land Rover Defender ‘taxi’ driving through the streets of the capital. The Defender, one of the world’s best loved 4x4s, was starring in a commemorative film to celebrate the global automotive icon and to promote the forthcoming charity auction of the Defender 2,000,000 being held at Bonhams New Bond Street headquarters on 16 December.

The film, released today, also stars a number of other more unusual, specially modified vehicles including a Series II Land Rover ice cream van, a specially tailored Paul Smith Defender and the first ever Series Land Rover show car, displayed at the Amsterdam Motor Show in 1948, all taking in London’s famous landmarks as they tell the story of the Defender’s rich history.

The Defender 2,000,000 will be on display at a specially curated exhibition from 15-16 December for prospective bidders to preview the vehicle at Bonhams ahead of its auction.

All proceeds from the auction of ‘Defender 2,000,000’ will be donated in their entirety to Land Rover’s humanitarian and conservation partners – the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Born Free Foundation.

The 'Defender 2,000,000' vehicle features a plethora of distinctive finishing touches. A map of Red Wharf Bay - where the design for the original Land Rover was first drawn in the sand - is engraved into the aluminium fender, which contrasts with the exterior Indus Silver satin paint. A unique 'no 2,000,000' badge sits on the rear of the vehicle, which is mirrored on the interior console. The design is finished with Santorini Black wheels and wheel arches, roof, door hinges, grille and mirror caps.

Inside, the leather seats also feature the 'Red Wharf Bay' graphic and 'no 2,000,000' logos have been stitched on the headrests. A bespoke aluminium plaque, signed by everyone who helped to assemble the vehicle is fitted to the driver's seat plinth. On the front and rear, S90 HUE registration plates - a reference to the first ever pre-production Land Rover, registration 'HUE 166' - complete this one-of-a-kind Land Rover Defender.

Production of the original Land Rover Series I began at the famous Lode Lane facility in 1947 ahead of its launch at the Amsterdam Motor Show on 30 April 1948. Since then two million examples of the Series I, II III and Defender have been produced at Solihull.

JLR has confirmed that the Iconic and long lasting Defender Off-Roader will cease production early in the new year.

Jaguar Land Rover will end production of the iconic Land Rover Defender early next year.

The utilitarian workhorse, loved by the British royal family and farmers alike, has remained virtually unchanged during almost seven decades of production. The original design was so simple it was originally sketched in beach sand.

Slabs of aluminum. A windshield with virtually no tilt. A roof rack made to hold steamer trunks or lion carcasses. A spare tire hanging off the back door. That uncompromising approach has delighted customers from Winston Churchill to Queen Elizabeth II. The Defender has shuttled soldiers in the Korean War, Red Cross volunteers in crisis zones around the world and Lara Croft in the movie Tomb Raider.

In January, its run will end, and the company hasn't said when there will be a replacement. The 23,100 pound ($35,100) car synonymous with country living has become outdated.

Its raw metal surfaces are at odds with pedestrian safety standards. Its carbon-dioxide emissions are twice the European fleet standard, and it has no touchscreens, mobile connectivity, airbags or cordless phone charging.

"It's time to move to a new chapter," said Nick Rogers, Jaguar Land Rover's head of engineering, who learned to drive in a Defender. "We want to move forward with a new car."

No Bluetooth

Land Rover is losing its flagship because the brand relied too long on rural estate owners, ignoring the rise of soccer moms and urban adventurers. Its modest price tag meant modernizing the Defender made little sense, leaving it with just its authenticity as a selling point.

By contrast, the Jeep Wrangler, a descendant of the World War II military vehicle, has been kept current with electronic stability control and Bluetooth connectivity. A successful relaunch of the Defender could follow the track plowed by Mini. Since being reborn under BMW Group, the offbeat British car has grown into a global brand that includes an SUV variant and sells from Birmingham to Beijing.

But the Defender's association with bone-jarring off-roading may make it more of a struggle to re-establish, and Land Rover already thoroughly covers the upscale SUV segment from the compact Evoque to the top-of-the-line Range Rover.

The Defender's demise comes as global demand for SUVs is set to soar 37 percent to nearly 26 million cars in 2018, according to researcher IHS Automotive. Jaguar Land Rover needs a bigger piece of that pie after reporting a 92 million pound loss for the second quarter. Its answer has been Jaguar's first-ever crossover and the entry-level Land Rover Discovery Sport, at 30,695 pounds.

Before the Defender ceases production, Land Rover will sell about 20,000 this year, IHS estimates, down from a peak of about 56,000 in the 1970s. Its total 68-year production run will be more than 2 million cars.

Intense competition

The prospects for Land Rover to squeeze in a new Defender will be tough as competition in the segment intensifies. Fiat Chrysler Automobile's Jeep brand is broadening its range with cheaper models such as the $17,995 Renegade.

On the high end, Land Rover must contend with Maserati and Bentley entering the space as well as the burgeoning SUV lineups of Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Mercedes has its own heritage off-road vehicle, the G class -- though in contrast to the Defender, the Mercedes has enough fine leather and chrome to make it fit on the streets of Beverly Hills.

Land Rover and its parent company, India-based Tata Motors, face the challenge of developing a new Defender without losing the values of the original. While they've promised to overhaul and reintroduce the icon, they haven't said when it might resurface or whether production will continue at the factory in Solihull, England, where most of the assembly is still done by hand and there's a wall covered with personal memorabilia from buyers.

Key to the Defender's rebirth will be winning over city-dwellers with what its designer, Maurice Wilks, called a "go-anywhere, do-anything" vehicle. If it can maintain its quirky authenticity while adding new comforts and technology, Land Rover can hold on to old fans and win over new ones, said Franz-Rudolf Esch, director of the Institute for Brand and Communications Research at EBS Business School near Wiesbaden, Germany.

"What doesn't move with the times dies," Esch said. "The Defender must remain true to itself even as it reflects the Zeitgeist and the changing expectations of customers."

Waist-deep water

On a recent drive along Land Rover's back-country track near Birmingham, England, it's easy to see how the Defender gained cult status. It powered through nearly waist-deep water, trundled handily up the muddy inclines and survived a steep drop off a collapsed bridge. The feel is very much last-century, with a comically large turning radius and a hand brake that sits uncomfortably low. The windows steam up almost immediately. But there's no denying the charisma, as Munich sales manager Stephane Anger will tell you.

"I wanted something different," said Anger, a father of three who gave up a BMW 5-series sedan in favor of a black Defender, which he drives to his family's hut in the Austrian Alps. "The Defender has no trouble with any slope."

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Land Rover Heritage now gives us mere mortals the opportunity to drive classic 4x4's off Road - Yippee..

• Heritage and modern Land Rovers and off-road facility added to the Land Rover portfolio of driving experiences
• New UK facilities, exhibits and specially-prepared heritage vehicles
• A variety of customer packages available; drive by decade or by model
• Packages priced from £40 to £2000
• Bookings now available at www.heritagedriving.co.uk

The new Land Rover Heritage Driving Experience is now fully open at the company’s customer test facility in Fen End, West Midlands. 

For the first time, customers can experience Land Rover’s rich heritage through driving vehicles from the Series I that started the legend in 1948, to famous military vehicles such as the 101 Forward Control transporter and the iconic classic Range Rover on and off-road at a new customer facility in the heart of the UK.

A variety of packages will be available allowing visitors to focus on a particular decade or era, or to journey through Land Rover’s heritage, right up to the present day line-up.

Professional instructors will be on hand to provide direction, interesting facts and anecdotes to ensure visitors get the most pleasure and excitement from their time on the circuit or on the new off-road track. Customers will also have the opportunity to view stunning vehicle exhibits in detail and browse a fully stocked merchandise outlet.

  

Land Rover packages start at £40 for passenger rides with an expert Land Rover Experience instructor.  Example Land Rover Heritage Experience packages include:

The Series I, II and III Vs Modern Defender (£85)

Drive a Series I, II or III, followed by today’s vehicle they became – the Defender.  See how Land Rover’s adventurous DNA has passed from generation to generation, and how these classic machines took on the world’s toughest terrains.

Land Rover Historic Drives (£90)

The opportunity to drive the vehicles that started the legend, both on and off-road, choose from an original Series Land Rover, a classic Range Rover or a more unusual creation – the 101 Forward Control – a transporter designed for the British Army.

Range Rover Then & Now (£125)

Compare the classic Range Rover with its 2015 off-spring, both on and off-road.  Time behind the wheel includes a track induction for a higher speed experience, and time off-road putting both cars through their all-terrain paces. 

Land Rover – The Collection (£250)

The full Land Rover Experience incorporates all the key models in the brand’s history from the 1940s right up to the 2010s, including the Series Land Rovers, special military vehicles, collectible expedition-prepared vehicles and the modern line-up from Defender to Range Rover. 

Complementing the newly introduced Land Rover experiences, a range of Jaguar experiences are also available:

Jaguar Experience (from £95)

Passenger rides and driving alongside a seasoned professional, visitors can choose from individual models such as an XK150 or Mark II saloon, or selected pairings such as the Series 1 and Series 3 E-type, or even an E-type with its modern counterpart, the F-TYPE.

Le Mans Experience (£750)

Re-live the experiences of legends such as Mike Hawthorn and Duncan Hamilton with drives in the iconic C and D-types that dominated the world famous 24-hour endurance race in the 1950s.  This package also features drives in an XKSS and F-TYPE R Coupé, and includes lunch.

Grace and Pace Experience (£2,000)

A full day of driving Jaguar Heritage legends, from post-war racers to sports saloons, coupés, roadsters and much more, including the new XFR and F-TYPE R Coupé models.  The Grace and Pace day also features opportunities to drive creations from the company’s Special Operations division, and includes chauffeur-driven transfers to lunch.

Land Rover Defender Limited Editions to star at Geneva

• Two new option packs available for the Land Rover Defender highline XS derivatives available from quarter three 2014
• Ebony headliner now standard on XS derivatives including the new Hard Top XS
• Contrast leather premium seats and privacy glass now available to order as options on XS derivatives

This year’s Geneva Motor Show sees the launch of two new distinctive option packs – the ‘Black Pack’ and ‘Silver Pack’ – for the iconic Land Rover Defender. Defender will also benefit from a suite of optional features including a new aluminium finish to the vehicle’s side runners, contrast finish leather seats, privacy glass and, for the first time, an ebony Alston headliner which brings a touch of luxury and prestige to the rugged legend.

Two new option packs for the highline Land Rover Defender XS

Black Pack – This pack features a Santorini black finish, which is applied to the roof, grille, grille surround, headlamp surrounds, wheel arches, ‘Defender’ bonnet script and interior facia. Privacy glass and an ebony Alston headliner lend the vehicle added visual drama. The black pack will be available with two wheel variations – a gloss black Sawtooth alloy wheel and a new gloss black heavy duty wheel.

Silver Pack – The silver pack adds a bright Indus silver finish to the contrast roof (either body colour or contrast), which is complemented with the same finish to the grille surround, headlamp surrounds and facia. The vehicle also features the Dual Finish alloy wheels as standard and a bright light pack incorporating white tail and indicator lights.

Additional features

Defender derivatives are now available with the option of privacy glass. The option – standard as part of the black pack adds darkened glass to second and third row windows on the Station Wagon and to the alpine light and rear quarter light windows on Hard Top XS. Due to visibility regulations the rear door retains its standard glass.

The new ebony Alston headliner on XS derivatives has a dramatic effect on the interior of the Defender, and complements the feel and style of the black pack option perfectly. More traditionally seen on the Range Rover, this headliner brings an element of elegance to this off-road icon.

To improve the flexibility of these extensive personalisation options for Defender, a new finish will be available on the vehicle’s side runner. Painted silver, in contrast to the black side runner currently available, it is the perfect partner for customers opting to take the silver pack.

Defender is now available with optional contrast leather premium seats, which feature Windsor leather inserts, and a choice of three colourways; Ebony/Pimento, Ebony/Tan or Ebony/Lunar. If specified, this theme is also continued through to the second and third row seats on Station Wagons. To complete the look, the front centre stowage compartment features the contrast leather highlights.

Dynamic Stability Control

All UK specification Defender 90 and 110s are fitted with ABS and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) as standard. ABS will also be available for the first time on all 130 wheel base Defender models from quarter three 2014.

BREAKING NEWS - Land Rover announces that Defender production to stop in 2015

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has said it will stop production of its Defender model in 2015 because it will not meet new European laws on fuel emissions.

The last of the 4x4 models will roll off the production line at its plant in Solihull in the West Midlands in December 2015, it confirmed.

The model had evolved over 67 years of production but it could not be adapted to meet new emissions rules, JLR said.

It said no jobs would be lost and it was working on a replacement model.

The first model in the style of the Defender was introduced in 1948 and was modelled on a World War II Jeep.

It was not given the Defender name until the early 1990s, shortly after the launch of the Land Rover Discovery.

More than two million have been sold since the car first appeared, JLR said.

The firm said the decision to cease production was "mainly legislation based."

'Workhorses with style'

Plans by the European Council and Parliament to bring in stricter measures for new car emissions by 2020 meant there were "certain conditions the Defender just won't meet," the company said.

It said a replacement model for the Defender was being developed to be launched in 2016.

The Defender is very much a part of Land Rover's heritage but it does need to change.

Making the vehicle is pretty labour intensive and it is also not as mainstream as other Land Rover models.

The new Range Rover Sport, for instance, while still being an off-road vehicle is designed for a completely different and much more lucrative market.


The Defender has for a long time been the workhorse of the farmer, but these days Land Rover and Range Rover models are anything but.

Yes farmers still buy them, but desirability has propelled the brands into the premium market, somewhere the current Defender model just does not seem to fit anymore.

JLR's head of products, John Edwards, said the new model would be "instantly recognised" by people who drive the current vehicle but it "won't necessarily be cheap".

Editor of Auto Express magazine, Steve Fowler, said the Defender had taken on "iconic status" after being driven by members of the Royal Family and being featured in the latest James Bond film, Skyfall.

He said: "It's a very important market for Land Rover, one of its three pillars with the Range Rover and the Discovery.

"As we experienced with another iconic car, the Mini, it had a bit of a sabbatical before coming back and that's what I fully expect to happen with the Defender."

Frank King, from the Land Rover owners' club in Cannock, Staffordshire, said it was "disappointing news."

He said: "The silhouette still looks the same as it did 67 years ago, although its been upgraded and had new engines and whatever. It's a real shame to see it go."

Peter PlisnerBBC Midlands transport correspondent


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