Steve Beres and Ike Goss discuss a pickup-truck-heavy news week, including reports that Land Rover may pursue a U.S.-market pickup despite earlier claims the monocoque Defender platform couldn’t support one, potentially via partnering with a manufacturer with U.S. production. They review a UK Ministry of Defense light mobility vehicle competition to replace the aging Defender Wolf fleet, highlighting Land Rover’s new Defender-based military variants (including a tray-back pickup and tube-buggy-style patrol vehicle) alongside entries from INEOS, Toyota/Babcock, Ford/General Dynamics (including a 6x6 Ranger Super Duty), Mercedes/Rheinmetall, GM/Team Lionstrike, and others, plus observations about serviceability, interiors, and surprisingly street-oriented tires. They also cover a Freelander hybrid altitude Guinness record, Kim Basinger’s 1997 NAS Defender auction, a Ted Lasso Series IIA cameo, and tease next week’s Destination Defender Rebelle presentation.00:00 Show Intro and Hosts01:09 Defender Pickup Rumors02:36 US Tariffs and Partnerships04:40 Military RFP Reveals Pickup05:56 Competitors INEOS and Toyota08:08 Ford Ranger Super Duty09:55 Defender Trayback Design Talk11:36 Other Entries Mercedes and GM14:17 Tires and US Military Contrast14:58 AM General and Oshkosh Updates16:07 Final Contender Tease16:17 Hybrid Tube Buggy17:57 NATO Contract Stakes18:44 Military Tech Serviceability21:03 Freelander Altitude Record22:41 Celebrity Defender Auction26:27 Ted Lasso Land Rover28:19 Destination Defender Recap29:58 Wrap Up Credits

The hosts discuss a UK climate expert planning to drive an electrified Series I Land Rover around the world to raise climate-change awareness, noting the practical challenges of charging and the likelihood of mechanical failures despite the EV conversion. They then cover Land Rover’s improved showing in J.D. Power’s U.S. quality survey, moving to the middle of the pack, and debate what the results say about reliability versus owner expectations. Next, they talk about Land Rover using AI in vehicle testing to “listen” for fault-related sounds and analyze large testing datasets to catch problems earlier. The episode also updates the UK military’s upcoming Defender replacement trials, including multiple Land Rover variants (general service, ambulance, tactical transport, and utility modification) and comparisons with other bidders. Finally, they preview Destination Defender in Temecula, including a Defender museum and a panel with Rebelle Rally drivers Jenna and Liza, plus planned video coverage and a walkaround of the new Rebelle Defender 90.00:00 Wind Noise Banter01:03 Electric Land Rover World Tour04:51 Land Rover Reliability Rebound07:56 AI Quality Control Listening12:23 Telemechanics and AI Doom13:06 Wolf 2 Military Defender Variants20:10 Destination Defender Preview23:26 Museum Highlights and Rebelle Panel26:16 Wrap Up and Next Episode

Steve Beres and Ike Goss discuss JLR launching a £154,000 Range Rover and then cutting 4,500 jobs, which JLR attributes to tariffs and falling sales, and note UK officials plan to meet with new CEO PJ Balaji. They cover signs JLR may revive a military-style “Defender Wolf Series 2,” potentially to compete against vehicles like a Toyota Hilux-based platform and the Ineos Grenadier. Ike recaps the All British Field Meet in Portland, where Land Rover was absent as an exhibitor but Ineos Grenadier was a featured sponsor, and highlights the strong turnout of Range Rover Classics and Series trucks, including Steve driving his 1957 109 pickup. They review a Bring a Trailer LS3-swapped, six-speed 1976 Series III build that failed to sell near $100,000, and close with updates on a re-emerged Forest Rover and progress on another Forest Rover restoration.00:00 Show Intro and Hosts01:18 JLR Job Cuts and Tariffs03:36 Defender Wolf Rumors07:02 Wolf vs Modern Rivals07:45 All British Field Meet Recap11:24 Ike’s Yellow 109 Road Trip12:13 Ant Colony in the Rover13:29 Goat Man Land Rovers14:26 LS3 Series III Build17:38 Ugly Details Breakdown21:14 Forest Rover Update23:02 Forest Rover Engineering25:41 Wrap Up Credits

Steve Beres and Ike Goss return to The Underpowered Hour after travel and discuss preparing for Destination Defender in Temecula, including expected heavy rain. They cover news that the all-new electric Defender has been delayed again, now to 2030, as JLR focuses on electric Range Rover models. They also discuss a major Range Rover steering knuckle recall that is being “recalled” because prior repairs may have used incorrect parts and the new fix is still pending. The hosts review the sale of Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz’s Series II pickup, noting its restoration details and features, and that it sold for $56,000. They mention Gerry McGovern’s departure from JLR, a Discovery 2’s plot role in the film "Bodies Bodies Bodies," and Jenna assembling two two-door Range Rovers into one for racing.00:00 Show Cold Open00:36 Hosts Intro and Updates01:19 Destination Defender Weather Talk02:09 Electric Defender Delayed03:42 Recall of a Recall05:41 Old School Rover Reliability06:36 Daniel Craig S2 Pickup Sale10:25 McGovern Exit and Design Future13:35 Weekend Dad Jokes13:51 Jerry OnlyFans Bit14:27 Discovery in Bodies16:45 Two Range Rovers One19:22 Flight Delay Stories21:50 Gore Verbinski Picks23:02 Joe Rodan Experience23:42 Destination Defender Plans24:45 Show Credits Outro

Steve and Ike discuss King Charles’ Defender selling at auction for about £67,000 (well above the ~£40,000 estimate) and then dig into uncertainty around proposed 25% tariffs on foreign-made vehicles and parts slated for April 2nd, including questions about how they’d affect imports already on the water, used/antique parts, and compounding with existing taxes like the chicken tax; they note market reactions such as GM and Tata Motors share drops. Ike also recounts receiving a packed 20-foot container from Australia containing multiple Land Rovers and parts, including a Series I factory welder project and two Series I 80-inch restorations. They briefly mention a Land Rover credit-fraud scheme ending in a three-year sentence and preview a short episode with more guests and event recaps next week.

Steve Beres and Ike Goss discuss Jaguar Land Rover’s Q1 results, including a £109M profit before tax (2.8% EBITDA) that’s down 68.9% year-over-year and a free cash flow balance of -£998M, speculating it reflects heavy spending on new models and facilities and inviting an accountant to explain it. They cover the Freelander 8 presale delay due to Typhoon Dolphin, pricing around $50,000 with a $68,000 limited launch edition, and its unusual featured details. The hosts recap Monterey Car Week news: Sotheby’s sold a 2007 SV Ultra and a 1993 Range Rover Classic for about $967K, plus notes about export and California sales restrictions, and they mention the $248K Range Rover SV Pearl Lustre benefiting the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. They also touch on the Dakar Defender Octa edition, an Octa used as a land-speed-record push vehicle, attend Mogfest in Oregon, and share workshop updates including transporting vehicles, clutch work, and Ike acquiring a 1965 Series IIA 109 pickup with a rear PTO.00:00 Show Introductions01:18 JLR Q1 Profits and Cash02:23 Negative Cash Flow Explained04:08 Freelander 8 Typhoon Delay05:24 Launch Edition Oddities08:02 Monterey Car Week Buzz08:12 Auction Range Rovers Drama10:24 SV Pearl Lustre Edition12:22 Dakar Defender Octa Reveal14:06 Color Scheme Hot Takes16:06 Octa Tuning and Push Car17:40 Land Rovers and Speed Records18:47 Bluebird Support 109s19:42 Mogfest Off Road Meetup22:02 Unimog Reunion Story23:29 Tiny Unimog Driving Impressions25:05 Haflinger Love and Nesting26:16 Shop Logistics and Repairs27:55 New Series IIA Pickup Arrival30:38 PTO Ice Cream and Blender Ideas32:05 Wrap Up and Announcements33:17 Credits and Support

Steve Beres and Ike Goss discuss the presale launch of Chery’s new Freelander 8 and why Chinese vehicles face bans in places like the United States while gaining ground in the UK, including ownership-related legislation that impacted Polestar. They react to the Freelander’s “L-A-D-Y” passenger-seat acronym, joke about future models, and note rising JLR China profits as old Evoque stock clears and a former plant becomes a “Freelander Super Factory.” The conversation shifts to the new Range Rover GT—low roofline, minimal ground clearance, and built on JLR’s new electromodal architecture—plus Range Rover removing pricing limits for bespoke builds after a reported $550,000 example. They also cover a 50 million PR budget, a BYD/“Ti7” Defender-like SUV copy headed to Europe, workshop prep for NORRA Baja support vehicles, race-car parts arriving, and motorcycle trip plans.00:00 Show Intro and Hosts01:23 Freelander 8 Presale Buzz02:12 Chinese Car Bans and Ownership04:01 The LADY Seat Controversy05:13 Wheelander and Jimny Jokes06:44 China Stock Clearance and Super Factory08:28 Range Rover Model Explosion09:21 Range Rover GT Road Rover11:51 No Price Limit Special Editions14:39 Sauna Load Space Wishlist15:46 Ridiculous Options and Steel Wheels16:11 Farm Gear Mods16:26 Forbidden Luxury Interiors17:28 Wild Range Rover Features18:21 Just Make It Reliable19:37 JLR Bad Publicity Budget21:47 BYD Defender Clone26:07 Workshop Support Truck Plans27:39 Race Car Build Update28:45 New GS Motorcycle Talk30:24 Chicken Alaska And Denny's31:31 Closing Trail Signoff

Steve Beres and Ike Goss are joined by Linus and special guest Alex Massy to cover Land Rover news and recap the Land Rover National Rally in Ouray, Colorado. They discuss JLR cutting 300 jobs and a UK leadership shuffle after a cyberattack, the end of the Discovery Sport, and a Monterey Car Week auction of a one-of-one matched pair: a restored 1993 Range Rover Classic and a 2027 Range Rover SV Ultra, estimated at $750,000–$950,000. The group recounts driving from Oregon, tire and emissions issues with modern tow vehicles, high-altitude trail runs up to 13,000 feet, the beauty of Ouray and nearby mining towns, and monsoon rains that caused mudslides, closed trails, and led many attendees to leave early. They highlight event amenities, presentations, and a Camel Trophy film night.00:00 Show Intro And Hosts01:18 Guests And Rally Tease02:00 JLR Job Cuts Talk03:44 Discovery Sport Cancelled05:57 Monterey Range Rover Pair08:16 Auction Price Guessing12:36 Rally Trip Begins15:53 Road Trip Mishaps17:52 Trails And Elevation18:19 Carb Trouble at Altitude19:02 Ouray Views and Town19:35 Rally Car Mix Shifts21:48 Monsoon Mudslides23:25 Camping and Trail Logistics24:49 Alex Highlights Mining Ruins27:09 Shoutouts and Trophy Defender29:53 Vendors Classes and Camp Movie33:04 Destination Defender Roast34:59 Wrap Up and Credits

Steve Beres and Liza Beres open the episode discussing missing the Land Rover National Rally and a rough Freelander listing, then cover JLR news including the new all-EV Range Rover GT (with hybrid capability later) and continued touring of the Range Rover Electric/Sport Electric with large no-money-down “preorders.” They discuss the Chery-collaboration Freelander 8 ahead of its international rollout, noting its range-extender setup, short EV-only range, off-road hardware, six-seat layout, and controversial “L.A.D.Y.” passenger seat branding and fragrances. They review 2027 Defender updates and pricing, including the Octa’s horsepower drop, engine lineup changes, new seating and accessories, and a self-healing wrap, plus JLR’s renewable-material tire initiative and a 2027 Range Rover option for real buttons. They note designer Giorgetto Giugiaro’s rollover in a Defender 110 with no major injury, then enter “Recall Corner” for Discovery rear-camera flooding and a large Ford Bronco recall, and close with a Matchbox movie trailer featuring a Defender 6x6 pickup.00:00 Show Intro and Hosts01:17 Missing the Rally02:01 Freelander for Sale02:48 Range Rover GT Reveal06:16 EV Preorders and Tour07:24 Freelander 8 Roadshow09:10 Lady Seat Controversy12:15 2027 Defender Changes14:33 Detuning and Tuning Talk15:22 Defender New Options16:14 Self Healing Wrap Talk16:32 Rice Husk Tires17:26 Buttons Return Range Rover19:03 Giugiaro Rollover Story21:00 Recall Corner JLR21:46 Bronco Recall Comparison23:23 Defender Forums No Fix24:15 Land Rovers In Movies24:34 Matchbox Movie Trailer27:07 John Cena Movie Debate29:03 Wrap Up And Credits

Steve Beres and Ike Goss recap Goodwood news, including JLR’s fully electric Range Rover with an estimated 300-mile EPA range, a $130,000 starting price, and confirmation of a Range Rover Sport EV, plus a new single JLR app replacing multiple remote apps. They discuss JLR halting China-market vehicle production at its Chengshu plant as it shifts to building the Freelander under a Chery joint venture while continuing exports to China. The pair then tour notable Bring a Trailer listings, including a refurbished, bright orange Turkish Autocar-built Defender 110 with a carbureted 3.5 V8 and a heavily dented front differential, and a rare NAS Defender-style yellow camping trailer with a fold-out tent and period-correct details. They also preview attending the upcoming National Rally.