I applaud all the answers that try to reason the approach this company (Land Rover) has tried to take, however, ... they should simply change the name to Street Rover. (or Urban Rover)
This is a perfect example (and I am sure we could name hundreds more) of a company so bastardizing their original appeal product to the point of it being unrecognizable to those of us that are enthusiast.
Quietly while we have been asleep at the Discovery wheel, ... land rover has swooped into their dealerships (all but a few) and removed all the outdoor gear and reference to their heritage, removed all the natural wood and tumbled tile and replaced it with grey and white formica, and forced all their (formerly known as Sales Guides) salesmen to shed the mountain khaki pants and camel trophy safari shirts for hickey freeman slacks and oxford shirts.
Truly the market shift has been to Urbantopia with the range rover. Rumor has it that the 2012 Range Rover will compete with the Rolls Royce in price and be only obtainable by the elite 1% of the population.
Yet, much to my point, Jeep has decided to completely return to its roots and have embraced their heritage.
The sad side of this is that it would be so easy and economical for LR to introduce a new version of the Discovery I with straight axles and a diesel power plant, and could easily compete with Jeep, but from the round table we attended at last year's EXPO, it is simply not going to happen (while Jeep did say that they have some potential promise of doing just that ... a straight axle, diesel powered Wrangler and Cherokee.)
While I realize that those of us that are true Land Rover enthusiast are in the minority anymore, it is still a sad moment for those of us that love the Marque.
No longer can it be proclaimed: Land Rover - Unique in All The World.
I step away from the soap box.
Dendy
This is a perfect example (and I am sure we could name hundreds more) of a company so bastardizing their original appeal product to the point of it being unrecognizable to those of us that are enthusiast.
Quietly while we have been asleep at the Discovery wheel, ... land rover has swooped into their dealerships (all but a few) and removed all the outdoor gear and reference to their heritage, removed all the natural wood and tumbled tile and replaced it with grey and white formica, and forced all their (formerly known as Sales Guides) salesmen to shed the mountain khaki pants and camel trophy safari shirts for hickey freeman slacks and oxford shirts.
Truly the market shift has been to Urbantopia with the range rover. Rumor has it that the 2012 Range Rover will compete with the Rolls Royce in price and be only obtainable by the elite 1% of the population.
Yet, much to my point, Jeep has decided to completely return to its roots and have embraced their heritage.
The sad side of this is that it would be so easy and economical for LR to introduce a new version of the Discovery I with straight axles and a diesel power plant, and could easily compete with Jeep, but from the round table we attended at last year's EXPO, it is simply not going to happen (while Jeep did say that they have some potential promise of doing just that ... a straight axle, diesel powered Wrangler and Cherokee.)
While I realize that those of us that are true Land Rover enthusiast are in the minority anymore, it is still a sad moment for those of us that love the Marque.
No longer can it be proclaimed: Land Rover - Unique in All The World.
I step away from the soap box.
Dendy