I went on the Solihull factory tour on Wednesday, amongst a few interesting things we were told by our tour guide was, that JLR are at the late stages of developing their own gearboxes, and are looking to replace the ZF 8 speed by 2018/19.

Also the ingenium engine will come in 4, 6, and 8 pot versions.

The new Defender is only 2 years away, and is fantastic off road, he had driven one, I think we saw one driving around the site covered in a very loose fitting cloth covering, and when I asked him what it was, he suddenly went very quiet, if it was, it has LED headlights.

I highly recommend the factory tour if you get a chance.

Thanks for the info.....Did you pay for this tour? How does one get in....?

I paid £49 each for me and my wife for the manufacturing tour solihull.

link to all bookable tours

https://experience.landrover.com/manufacturing-tours

I've done Solihull several times and Halewood once, always as part of a forum "day out". You can also arrange to see your new car on the line if you are clever enough and know the build date and VIN. When you book you let them know but there is always the let out that they don't know the exact time that your new car will start build. If you have a decent dealership then they also can arrange it. If you order a FFRR Autobiograpghy then there is an arrangement whereby you can have your new car handled over at the factory in a special suite that has recently been opened for the purpose - you do the morning factory guided tour and after a nice lunch you pick up your new FFRR and drive it home. There is a fee for that though. 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Yes, I heard the recent facelift Jags XE, XF, F-Pace and new XJ will get Straight six's inlieu of the V6. As long as the bigger units aren't as under powered as the Ingeunim i4...

I love ZF, everyone uses them, I wonder why JLr feel they can improve on perfection, but looking at the current Jags, control on costs seems to be future, I hope it doesn't affect the product..... Gone:
2016.5MY RRS HSE Dyn
2015MY Disco Sport HSE
2011MY FL2 HSE
2010MY RRS HSE
2008MY D3 HSE

New LR built engines and Boxes means a long teething issue period for the vehicles these will be in. No doubt Brexit may be the reason with pound depreciation ? M16 SVD8 ,4.4 HSE with a few extras, Sold R50 , Wife SQ5 , BMW R1200GSW.

Tim in Scotland wrote:

If you order a FFRR Autobiograpghy then there is an arrangement whereby you can have your new car handled over at the factory in a special suite that has recently been opened for the purpose - you do the morning factory guided tour and after a nice lunch you pick up your new FFRR and drive it home. There is a fee for that though.

£1245 is more than "a fee"...  2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Small change for the owners of new FFRR Autobiographies though..............  2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

Triple7 wrote:

I love ZF, everyone uses them, I wonder why JLr feel they can improve on perfection, but looking at the current Jags, control on costs seems to be future, I hope it doesn't affect the product.....