Show Notes
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
More from The Underpowered Hour
Steve Beres and Ike Goss welcome Liza and Jenna back from the Rebelle Rally 2026 for a quick, tired-but-excited recap ahead of a longer decompression episode. They celebrate Team 155’s best-ever result with a P4 finish, a stage win, and a Pennzoil Challenge win that came with a championship belt and a VIP trip to the Pennzoil 400 in Las Vegas, while thanking Ralph and Kathleen for the loaned truck. Liza and Jenna tease stories about extreme weather (a hurricane hit at base camp one, flash flooding en route to base camp two, and a sandstorm at base camp three), tracker issues, a near checkpoint mistake, and an unrevealed “boo-boo” to the vehicle. The hosts invite audience questions via Instagram, YouTube, or their website, mention a Land Rover documentary screening in Santa Monica, and thank sponsors and partners.
On the penultimate day of the Rebelle Rally 2026, hosts Steve Beres and Brodie Peariso recap Team 155’s performance after a 305 km transit day to the dunes, where the rally will finish tomorrow. Despite a few mid-day mishaps, the team placed 13th on the day with 181 points (about 80% of available points), keeping them 4th overall with 1,210 points (86%); they sit 71 points off first and 34 points behind third, with only a 2% accuracy gap to third place. They discuss the public finish line event, family attending (including both moms), awards and the dinner gala, and touch on other competing Land Rovers, including a Series II Discovery that barely passed tech and a classic Defender that’s running strong, before previewing a final-day update depending on connectivity.
Steve Beres and Brodie Peariso recap a tough Day 6 of the 2026 Rebel Rally, using the Rebel Rally dashboard to review a team’s timeline and track. Despite collecting many checkpoints and performing well enough for a potential first-place stage score, the team incurred a 35-point penalty from arriving late to base camp and three wide misses, including trouble at difficult 8X and 9X checkpoints that only 12 teams reached. They discuss how wide misses create major point damage, speculate about terrain issues in Johnson Valley, and note a possible timing question around a 5:00 PM check-in. The day ends 13th with 225 points minus penalties (190), dropping from 3rd to 4th overall at 1,029 points, still within reach. They preview a southbound transit day to the dunes and changing sand conditions.
Hosts Steve Beres and Brodie Peariso recap Day 5 of the 2026 Rebelle Rally in Johnson Valley, describing a “choose your own adventure” stage with scattered checkpoints over about 290 km, some technical difficulties and a possible detour, yet Liza and Jenna finish third on the day and remain third overall after finding 91% of checkpoints. They note strategy differences among teams, Barlow winning the stage with rookie Hurricane, and that an early arrival at CP6 cost half points, keeping the team just off second for the day while first place remains a close tie at 93%. They discuss team 122’s alternator and battery failure leading to a tow and walking in, broader vehicle wear and flooding risks, later start times skewing midday standings, and looming difficult days, dunes, and incoming weather. They also highlight Liza and Jenna leading the privateer Pennzoil Challenge with 202 points over 190.
Steve Beres and Brodie Peariso recap day four of the 2026 Rebelle Rally, praising major upgrades to the YB Tracker dashboard and explaining the 515 km, 2.5-difficulty route from Nevada through Las Vegas and historic Route 66 to Roy’s Motor Inn as the first day of another marathon. They highlight Team 155 tying for first on the day for their first stage win, noting their only notable points loss came at checkpoint 10, and that the result moves them into second overall behind strong competition including Laura Wanless in a Ford Racing Bronco Raptor. The hosts discuss rain, flooding, water crossings, and a rain delay, plus how Serac’s Defender modifications help protect vulnerable intercoolers in rough conditions. They invite viewer questions, preview base camp two and upcoming Southern California dunes, and share how to sponsor the team via theunderpoweredhour.com for a prize drawing.