Land Rover's front wheel drive future

Makes sense for survival

As Land Rovers these days are fashion accessories and only go to school and supermarkets will anyone notice or care about drive chain changes. Except of course for the two days a year we have snow and the reduced running costs. 4x4 is dead, long live 4x2 and hopefully Land Rover as a vehicle manufacturer who has finally woken up.

By clickpw on 11 May, 2010, 8:08am

This will break too

Landrover don't have the ability to make this technology work. They have been making the current Range Rover since 2003 and every one breaks down, I should know, I fix them. My last Vogue SE had to be rejected as I only had it 2.5 days in 3 months after buying it. They gave me a 2010 Sport which broke down with a gearbox fault and a half day off road voucher at the Landrover Experience driving a 2010 Vogue SE which developed a suspension fault on an obstacle and wouldn't move.
They still can't get it right after all this time making them.

By skyliner38 on 11 May, 2010, 8:43am

FWD?

Why FWD, why nor RWD.

RWD ok but for a car like this FWD is just not good enough

By iozdil on 11 May, 2010, 9:45am

The first non-4x4 Landrover?

That's a bold step. Land Rover risk flushing their unique selling point as a 4x4 only maker and the image of the Range Rover down the toilet. Addmittedly they already downgraded the Range Rover name with the 'sport', which is pretty much a Discovery in a dress for people that can't afford a real Range Rover, but this will just make Range Rovers 'common'. No thanks from a Land Rover owner and enthusiast.

By Top90 on 11 May, 2010, 10:38am

What's the point?

It's like Ferrari moving away from sports cars and into the world of family MPV's.
At least Toyota makes changes to things that matter, (I applaud their swift recall process BTW), and I'm so glad I opted for the Land Cruiser Amazon, it is proud to be what it is and not the 'Diet coke, Lead free, Low tar, version of what Beefy off-road SUV's are supposed to be.
I am struggling to understand why a great 4x4 off road SUV manufacturer like Land Rover would want to do this. You can't run with the Fox and hunt with the Hounds!

By Allan_M on 11 May, 2010, 4:28pm

fwd is gay

so u brits are turning french?

By julianlee4 on 12 May, 2010, 2:34pm

Sensible Engineering by LR

Customers who want a car of that shape, towing vehicle or ground clearance could be happy with 2WD. It will save fuel and reduce Road Tax, & corporate mpg for LR models. It will remove need for large Prop Shaft Tunnel in RWD or 4WD - Prop shaft must give ground clearance it must be mounted high. Lower boot floor achievable WITHOUT high mounted MECHANICAL differential.
4wd can be achieved by using standard FWD engine and transmission with generator / regenerative brake using electric motors on REAR wheels only. Electric motors have superb starting torque for towing, etc, with the weight of the batteries providing the ratio of vehicle towing weight to trailer. No need for transmission tunnel or high boot floor with electric rear drive.
Forget the snow argument, other than ground clearance. SNOW compatible TYRES are what is needed for snow & light mud. 4WD, high ground clearance and the appropriate tyres and Land Rovers achieve things that other vehicles cannot touch. I was travelling over high hills REGULARLY this winter for many days passing Chelsea Tractors from Japan, etc. and they were all stuck fast in SNOW. They all had the wrong tyres. Never saw a Landie stuck.
Problem with reliability is partly due to previous Owners of Land Rover who contracted out supply of components (according to a LR insider). Land Rover Engineers design a new reliable part, but it is rejected because the supplier has a contract to supply the old fashioned design for several years to come - repeated reliability problems result. Those shoddy suppliers are not necessarily British.
Any Comments?
Rod H

By harrap2 on 13 May, 2010, 2:13pm

Limited Slip?

It makes sense, as previous posts have said most LR's never leave the city. They're bought for looks, image, high riding/good visibility, perceived safety, etc.

2 wheel drive will make them lighter, faster, more economical, potentially a better drive on tarmac...

LR could fit a limited slip diff. to cope with 2 days snow per year. VW demonstrated years ago with the Golf Synchro that 4WD is unnecessary for snow and ice.

They need to make a 2WD pick-up to crack the US market.

By inicholson on 13 May, 2010, 2:20pm

2WD & Limit Slip

Land Rover could provide 2WD and use their Traction control for benefit of Caravanners in fields etc. I travelled over snow ploughed roads through the hills this winter with 2WD Skoda Fabia with two front tyres using dedicated "All Season Tyres" on the front that coped with snow up to 6 inches (150 mm). The snow plough had removed the 5 foot drifts but 4WD Chelsea Tractors were stuck because of wrong tyres. Now pure ice with water running on top was impossible for my tyres - they were not ice tyres. I put the All Season tyres on back wheels of Fabia in summer and use some good summer tyres on front wheels. This is because "All Season" tyres can wear quicker in summer and do not perform as quite as well as GOOD normal tyres. Winter tyres are better below 7 degrees Centigrade.
Many owners of Land Rovers would be happy with 2WD alone. But for marketing reasons and added performance a sophisticated traction control Limit Slip would be the best option. (Descent control as well??)
This would leave the more expensive 4WD option with electrical RWD assistance for the more specialist market. The cheaper 2WD could widen their market appeal.
Rod H

By harrap2 on 13 May, 2010, 3:44pm

2WD or 4WD or ...

I understand the imperitive for LR to introduce options and technology that drastically reduces emissions for tas purposes and for the primary purpose of selling vehicles.
My only quibble with offerinf a 2WD varient is less whether it should be rear wheel drive (I would have thought) but far more so that, like Honda and possibly Subaru, they offer a variable 4WD transmission whereby the vehicle naturally runs on 2WD until the sensors notice any slippage, at which poall 4 wheels kick in.
Surely this would be by far the most sensible option, or at least a full 2WD vehicle with a switch to turn full 4WD on as and when necessary as the lesser of the two options.
Others can do it and it makes sense to me.

By sirsidneyruffdiamond on 13 May, 2010, 4:12pm

Subaru are all wheel drive, not part time four wheel drive.

By thereal on 11 June, 2010, 5:08pm

Subaru are all wheel drive, not part time four wheel drive.

By thereal on 11 June, 2010, 5:17pm