The SVA SCV8 LR4 Poll

[manoftaste]

All I know is that if there is anything that I have learned on this planet, its this: Everything is possible

Curious, how many of us here would be interested in an SCV8/ZF8 LR4 if it was produced by SVA with the following bare minimum features:


________________________________________________________________

1. SCV8

2. ZF 8, with the top gear ratio'd/tuned such that the RPMs are around 1500 at 75 mph for stress free, effortless cruising on long trips, reducing cabin NVH levels as well as better fuel economy. And also for incase if you are on an open/straight stretch and if you are cruising at 90+ mph, so the RPMs are not shooting thru the roof, stressing the overall cabin experience.

3. A must: Transmission shifter/lever (like the MY13), instead of the rotary knob.

4. 17" concave design rim (to accommodate the 265 / 65 / R17 sized tire, increases the current diameter only by about 0.6" but gives us quite a bit of the needed meat for airing down, etc). If Lexus can do this tire/wheel combo for their LX470, so can LR.

Concave design not only looks great but is also less susceptible to off road wear and tear or damage.

Looking for a Less fussy/crowded, less spokes, and a simple/minimalist design, in line with the minimalist design and personality of LR4. A design that looks aggressive enough but with elegance. Less is more here.

The seven-spoke design (LR style number 703) introduced with the MY13 Lux is an excellent design, complementing the truck' design cues and personality. Here is the pic:

https://www.landroverworld.org/threads/lr4-oem-19-inch-rims-style-703.30676/

So simply repurposing this design to produce the concaved 17" version would be more than enough. And concaving this Style 703 rim will also achieve the feature number 11 below.

5. Adaptive Dynamic Suspension with Auto and User Adjustable/Manual modes (dampers settings of Soft, Med, or Hard, etc.) with the SOFT setting exactly mimicking LR3 suspension tuning.

6. Either a Hydro-pneumatic type of suspension or a truly reliable and a durable air suspension (not the current nonsense and tales of unreliability), with onboard tire inflation capability like the new Defender.

If you need to go back to the compressor/springs vendor or to the drawing board for beefier components, so be it.

Also, due to it being situated in such a vulnerable place even for the regular on road use, a factory designed protective cover for the air compressor should be there by default, and the customers should not have to look for an aftermarket solution for something like that.

7. De-Soccer mom the steering weight and restore it back to the perfect steering weight of LR3, specially at freeway speeds.

8. Updating the TR to the latest version of course, along with the manual controls which are now available in the new Defender.

9 Selectable option for Realtime/instant suspension flex feedback on the 4x4 screen display (vs what it does now with a long sampling delay). Also restoration of the continuous display of the suspension' baseline indicators on all four corners, the way it used to display on an LR3 4x4 screen, in addition to the flexed axels' lines.

10. Display the current/live tire pressures next to all four wheels on the 4x4 info screen by default.

11. Slight increase in overall track width, about 1 to 1.5 inches or more (as long as the overall aerodynamics, aero drag, and wind noise levels are not compromised). This is easily achievable by concaving the rim design without messing with anything else and then adjusting the load specs on the bearings/bushings accordingly.

12. Increased Dynamic/Offroad Roof rack load capacity.

13. And overall updated general interface tech to bring the vehicle up to the current standards.

14. Revise the ridiculously low-hanging and not so reassuringly connected tow hitch receiver design, it hangs way too low for a vehicle of this nature. Re-design the mechanism and/or its placement so after the install/mounting it, the hitch receiver does not sit below the bumper. You got enough room/places to play with in the LR4 frame, find a better solve, LR

15. Option for the seating surface material/fabric which is being used in the new Defender (?)

16. Restoration of things like the transmission vibration damper which was removed to reduce weight/cut costs in the last few model years but while adding to the cabin NVH levels. Any rubber seals or anything else of such nature that the bean counters made the engineers remove over the life of LR3/4 which has compromised the ride quality and the cabin NVH levels.

END OF LIST
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I have some other ideas (some functional, some cosmetic/aesthetics) which I will add later to this list (with possible pictures). And if anytime I update the list with something new, I will ping you guys here.

But for now the above list of features is what would be an ideal starting point as the vehicle would still maintain its original and distinguishing feel of the dual, James Bond personality which began with the LR3 setting it apart from the rest.

Please feel free to add any other items or thoughts/wants you guys may have. But the idea here is to really not compromise the distinct dual personality of LR4.

Call me crazy, but I have actually been planning to contact LR UK/SVA for a few months now. So it would not hurt to get a general sense of things here. And if there are enough numbers, who knows, maybe calling SVA with a decent number of interested potential buyers may have an impact, or it may lead to something else or something better. You just never know. One thing I do know for fact that they do listen and read.

Also, a reasonable and realistic MSRP can always be discussed here if there are enough parties interested.

 

[nwoods]

I compiled a similar list a long while ago for the LR3. I’m pleased to see that many of the items on this list were addressed in the LR4. Here’s the original list from 2008:

https://lr3tips.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/lr3d3-wishlist/

 

[avslash]

New LR4, locking t-case and rear diff, NA V8 (gas or diesel), 35 gallon fuel tank 17 inch wheels, no astro roof glass panel, no eco-start/stop. My ideal vehicle.

Dreaming, because it will never happen.

 

[ktm525]

you are crazy. LR won't care.

It was more than steering weight that changed on the LR4. They changed the suspension geometry for less roll and quickened the steering ratio. I much preferred the slower ratio and less boost of the LR3. That being said the larger brakes on the LR4 are better than the barely adequate ones on the 3. Of course that brought the larger wheel issue..

 

[manoftaste]

you are crazy. LR won't care.

It was more than steering weight that changed on the LR4. They changed the suspension geometry for less roll and quickened the steering ratio. I much preferred the slower ratio and less boost of the LR3. That being said the larger brakes on the LR4 are better than the barely adequate ones on the 3. Of course that brought the larger wheel issue..

Quite aware of the revised geometry in LR4, lowering the center of gravity. Thats why leaving and/or optimizing LR3' suspension tuning with the revised geometry would have been perfect for excellent ride quality in LR4 both on and off road.

I too very much prefer the slower ratio/boost of LR3. LR4' steering tuning is ok at very slow speeds like when making a broken U turn, etc, but on regular city and freeway speeds it does not inspire confidence at all the way my LR3 did.

As far as larger brakes of LR4, this is what I have to say: Work harder, LR, to create the same or better braking capability with the 17 inch wheels as currently is with the 19 inch wheels. Its possible. And its only possible if the bean counters step back a little and let the LR engineers do what they do best.

Always start with the assumption that its possible, and then figure out a way to achieve it.

 

[manoftaste]

New LR4, locking t-case and rear diff, NA V8 (gas or diesel), 35 gallon fuel tank 17 inch wheels, no astro roof glass panel, no eco-start/stop. My ideal vehicle.

Dreaming, because it will never happen.

Yes, bigger fuel tank indeed, forgot about that.

Also, end this nonsense of running the exhaust pipes/components under the rear diff/drive axels.

There should never be anything running or hanging under the rear axels in a vehicle designed, as well as heavily marketed, to be taken offroad, specially with the independent suspension setup with the already compromised-by-design ground clearance.

In a Toyota Camry? Yes, its quite ok to do so. But in an offroad SUV such as LR4 (or even the new Defender)? No.

That was the first thing that surprised the hell out of me when I looked at a demo LR3 back in november or december of 2004, parked at the dealership. I remember making a special trip to the dealership to take a look at this new and unique on/off road vehicle.

I was like, hmm, maybe its a prototype still going under testing and that they will eventually fix this temporary location of the exhaust pipes hanging under the axels.

Was equally surprised to see this nonsense on the new Defender. Could only be described as nothing else but pure and utter laziness on LR' part.

If Nissan can do it, so you can you LR.

Amazes me that LR actually thinks that this type of engineering laziness, rather and most likely, LR' bean counters reluctance to portion some R&D dollars for correcting important things like this, would actually go unnoticed by its customers, both existing and potential.

 

[AdventureTim]

My thoughts:

1. A V8 would be enough. This is a trails or expedition vehicle, not a race car. I'll pick reliability over power every time. The SCV6 lacks low-end torque that would be fixed by a V8. The other major gap is fuel economy for expeditions; I would love a TTV8 diesel if I could have any option.

2. Agreed. The ZF 8 speed is great.

3. I personally love the knob: when you're not driving, it adds more space in the centre console for things like food, and I never find myself needing to grab a gear stick.

4. Indifferent. I think the 18" Compomotives look great and provide a lot of options for tyres.

5. I'd be happy with the new dual-chamber air springs introduced on the new Defender.

6. 100% stick with the air suspension system. It has been very reliable since the MY14 LR4s. Hydro systems add a lot more complexity (Toyota's systems are less reliable than the current Land Rover), and sap engine power. It'd be even better if they developed it in a way that you could also leverage the air compressor used for the suspension to air up tyres.

7. Indifferent. My MY15's steering feels good to me.

8. Indifferent. TR does a great job IMO.

9. Indifferent.

10. Yes! That would be great.

11. Indifferent.

12. Mildly agree; the new Defender has amazing roof load capability... but I've really started to shy away from roof loads. Putting weight up high negatively affects the vehicle's dynamics considerably.

13. Yes - provided they keep the systems compartmentalized. I almost bought a new LC200 but was really disappointed that the climate systems are completely integrated with the infotainment system. There are stories of people who's infotainment systems have malfunctioned and they've lost all HVAC ability.

14. Agreed. Replacing the recovery tow eye with the hitch receiver would bring it inline with other, similar vehicles.

15. Indifferent, but it would be nice to have.

16. Indifferent. My MY15 has pretty decent NVH levels.


I'll also second the increased fuel capacity request above, and would like the option to have a real snorkel.

 

[manoftaste]

Oh yes, the TDV8 offered in the Vogue model IS the engine for LR3/4.

 

[manoftaste]

Request to Mod: Possible to fix the title by swapping out the "A" with an "O" in "SVA" as I believe its actually SVO for Special Vehicles Operations, correct?

 

[avslash]

Yes, bigger fuel tank indeed, forgot about that.

Also, end this nonsense of running the exhaust pipes/components under the rear diff/drive axels.

There should never be anything running or hanging under the rear axels in a vehicle designed, as well as heavily marketed, to be taken offroad, specially with the independent suspension setup with the already compromised-by-design ground clearance.

In a Toyota Camry? Yes, its quite ok to do so. But in an offroad SUV such as LR4 (or even the new Defender)? No.

That was the first thing that surprised the hell out of me when I looked at a demo LR3 back in november or december of 2004, parked at the dealership. I remember making a special trip to the dealership to take a look at this new and unique on/off road vehicle.

I was like, hmm, maybe its a prototype still going under testing and that they will eventually fix this temporary location of the exhaust pipes hanging under the axels.

Was equally surprised to see this nonsense on the new Defender. Could only be described as nothing else but pure and utter laziness on LR' part.

If Nissan can do it, so you can you LR.

Amazes me that LR actually thinks that this type of engineering laziness, rather and most likely, LR' bean counters reluctance to portion some R&D dollars for correcting important things like this, would actually go unnoticed by its customers, both existing and potential.

That exhaust routing perplexed me when I got the truck as well. To the point that I have spent an hour or two of my life lying in my driveway gazing up into the rear suspension. After doing that, I don't think it was cheapness as much as there legitimately does not appear to be enough space to route it anywhere else. If you have found a routing, please post it up and I will have a buddy with a tube bending machine get after it.

I have toyed with the idea of replacing the rigid pipe under the rear suspension with something like braided stainless that could compress and then return to form but still be resistant to abrasion. It's one of those things in my head that haven't made it to reality yet.