The Underpowered Hour

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 Hosts
01:23 Freelander 8 Presale Buzz
02:12 Chinese Car Bans and Ownership
04:01 The LADY Seat Controversy
05:13 Wheelander and Jimny Jokes
06:44 China Stock Clearance and Super Factory
08:28 Range Rover Model Explosion
09:21 Range Rover GT Road Rover
11:51 No Price Limit Special Editions
14:39 Sauna Load Space Wishlist
15:46 Ridiculous Options and Steel Wheels
16:11 Farm Gear Mods
16:26 Forbidden Luxury Interiors
17:28 Wild Range Rover Features
18:21 Just Make It Reliable
19:37 JLR Bad Publicity Budget
21:47 BYD Defender Clone
26:07 Workshop Support Truck Plans
27:39 Race Car Build Update
28:45 New GS Motorcycle Talk
30:24 Chicken Alaska And Denny's
31:31 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 Hosts
01:18 Guests And Rally Tease
02:00 JLR Job Cuts Talk
03:44 Discovery Sport Cancelled
05:57 Monterey Range Rover Pair
08:16 Auction Price Guessing
12:36 Rally Trip Begins
15:53 Road Trip Mishaps
17:52 Trails And Elevation
18:19 Carb Trouble at Altitude
19:02 Ouray Views and Town
19:35 Rally Car Mix Shifts
21:48 Monsoon Mudslides
23:25 Camping and Trail Logistics
24:49 Alex Highlights Mining Ruins
27:09 Shoutouts and Trophy Defender
29:53 Vendors Classes and Camp Movie
33:04 Destination Defender Roast
34:59 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 Hosts
01:17 Missing the Rally
02:01 Freelander for Sale
02:48 Range Rover GT Reveal
06:16 EV Preorders and Tour
07:24 Freelander 8 Roadshow
09:10 Lady Seat Controversy
12:15 2027 Defender Changes
14:33 Detuning and Tuning Talk
15:22 Defender New Options
16:14 Self Healing Wrap Talk
16:32 Rice Husk Tires
17:26 Buttons Return Range Rover
19:03 Giugiaro Rollover Story
21:00 Recall Corner JLR
21:46 Bronco Recall Comparison
23:23 Defender Forums No Fix
24:15 Land Rovers In Movies
24:34 Matchbox Movie Trailer
27:07 John Cena Movie Debate
29:03 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.

Steve Beres and Ike Goss open with Steve’s trip to Eugene/Springfield and an update on his rough-but-charming 1998 Defender high-capacity pickup, which needs multiple repairs but may become a support vehicle rather than a full restoration. In the news, they react to Range Rover’s “British Summertime Collection” of lifestyle goods like blankets, purses, tea sets, and parasols featuring the new stacked-R logo, joking that the brand has become a purse company. They also discuss JLR’s color-shifting “Spectral Green” Works V8 Defenders with white interiors and roll cages, compare the look to the Joker, and mention recent Wall Street Journal coverage of vintage Defender demand. The episode closes with spy-shot talk of a new Velar that looks more sedan-like and plans to attend the Ouray, Colorado national rally (July 26–30), including a possible live show.

00:00 Welcome and Introductions
01:21 Steve Arrives in Oregon
02:26 Croatian Farm Truck Check
04:05 Plans for the High Cap
04:58 Range Rover Summer Merch
08:56 Color Shifting Works V8
12:43 Wall Street Journal Hype
16:22 JLR Trends and EV Pivots
19:15 New Velar Spy Shots
24:45 MaxTrax Wellness and Rally
26:30 Ouray Event Wrap Up