Steve Beres and Ike Goss cover a bleak week of Land Rover news, including JLR temporarily halting production at the Solihull plant for two weeks due to a supplier dispute affecting Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. They discuss leaked crash-test photos of the new Freelander (developed with Chery), noting its larger SUV proportions, bold Freelander branding, and a stripped, modern JLR-like interior, along with reports of a $58,000 entry price and plans for the UK rather than the US. They revisit the confusing status of design chief Gerry McGovern, with new reports saying he will step down at the end of March. The hosts also note the British Army retiring its iconic Land Rover fleet with replacement expected by 2030, speculate about surplus sales, debut a “Would You Rather” segment, and mention a new Anaconda film opening with a classic Defender scene.

00:00 Show Intro and Hosts

01:31 JLR Halts Solihull Production

02:37 Freelander Crash Leak

04:32 Freelander Design Breakdown

08:17 Pricing and Market Plans

09:19 Jerry McGovern Exit Saga

12:10 British Army Retires Land Rovers

15:17 Defender Import Dreams

15:44 Would You Rather Begins

16:55 Heater Core Nightmare

18:32 Creepy Seat vs Enya Loop

21:59 Viewer Submissions Call

22:24 Defender Spotting in Anaconda

25:13 Project Hail Mary Rovers

25:40 Where Is Jerry McGovern

26:25 See You Next Week

https://classiclandrover.com/2026/03/20/british-army-to-retire-iconic-land-rover-fleet/

https://www.autonews.com/jaguar-land-rover/ane-jaguar-design-boss-mcgovern-starts-consultancy-0320/

https://www.autoblog.com/news/new-land-rover-freelander-leaked-after-crash-test

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3931xz101do

Steve Beres and Ike Goss discuss JLR’s new international Defender Awards and how they differ from the existing Defender Service Awards, including the judging-panel process and some winners. They review spy-photo news suggesting the Range Rover Velar is becoming a more wagon-like, road-focused vehicle, and debate why the newer Range Rover logo appears inconsistently on vehicles and the website. They cover controversy around a Chinese company’s Range Rover-like vehicle and ad copy. Steve then interviews Joe Hesselman of Lost Cause Ranch about his new car-wash-based shop with three-phase power and expanded CNC capabilities, plus his Land Rover projects including a six-wheel Discovery 2 and a Discovery 4 chopped into a tray-back “El Camino”-style pickup with custom aluminum flatbed and toolboxes. The episode ends with a brief film recommendation, "Sorcerer" (1978).

00:00 Show Intro and Hosts

01:20 Defender Awards Explained

03:53 Winners and Weird Highlights

04:57 Velar Update Wagon Talk

06:40 Range Rover Logo Mystery

08:27 China Copycat Ad Drama

11:02 Defender Lookalike SUVs

17:51 Interview Joe Lost Cause

19:15 New Ranch CNC Upgrades

24:35 Fleet Updates and 6x6 Disco

27:43 Chopping a Discovery Tease

28:13 El Camino Dreaming

29:38 Why Cut the LR4

30:37 Sourcing the Rear Cap

31:31 Slicing It in Half

33:53 Designing the Flatbed

36:28 All Aluminum Fabrication

39:58 Underbed Box Mastery

42:09 CNC Press Brake Talk

45:57 Future Ranch Projects

49:54 Utes and Car Culture

52:08 Sorcerer Movie Pick

54:23 Wrap and Next Week

Steve Beres and Ike Goss open the Underpowered Hour noting a planned interview with Land Rover drivetrain expert Matt Jackson was lost due to a failed new “internet interview machine.” They cover Land Rover news, including the UK-only Range Rover Sport SVR Ultimate Edition with a 3.7-second 0–60 time, VIP handover, 500 units, and a £145,995 price. They discuss Chelsea Tractor Company expanding its signature body kits to vehicles like the Grenadier and Jeep, plus a line of pedal-equipped electric bikes and a heavily vented Defender build with an awkward fuel-filler tunnel. They preview the new Defender Trophy selection process in British Columbia, with 190 North American competitors and Jennifer Fibble competing for a finals spot in the UK. Ike also shares acquiring a recognizable 1950 Series I and a 1955 pickup from a Michigan estate sale and updates on a 109 wagon build with disc brakes and upgrades.

00:00 Show Intro and Hosts

01:19 Guest Interview Fails

02:02 Range Rover SVR Ultimate

03:28 VIP Perks and Tech

05:36 Wheels Seats and Pricing

06:49 Chelsea Tractor Body Kits

08:13 Chelsea Electric Bikes

12:28 Defender Guana Widebody

14:46 Design Details and Fuel Door

16:23 Chelsea Tractor Swell Kit

17:21 Defender Trophy Returns

18:37 Instagram Stage Training

20:42 Estate Sale Rover Haul

22:23 The Blue Series One

25:21 Shop Build 109 Wagon

25:54 Michelin XZL Tire Talk

27:04 Tractor Tangents and Tips

28:18 Busy Shop and UK Plans

29:56 Next Episode Tease