Defender shock

I learned yesterday (Wednesday) that all Defender manufacturer outside the UK is to be stopped - essentially the South African and Brazilian lines - and instead all Defenders will now be made in Britain.

The move is an attempt to cut costs by improving economies of scale.

At the same time a facelifted version of the Defender is being prepared to refresh the vehicle until an all-new version that will comply with European - and possibly American - crash test and emissions requirements comes on sale around 2008.

From the new year all Defenders will be imported.