Land Rover announces limited edition Defenders
Land Rover has revealed three limited-edition versions of the popular Defender. Expected to go on sale later this year, these are possibly the last editions to be available before the all-new generation of the Defender family debuts in 2016.
Named the Heritage, Adventure and Autobiography, these limited-edition variants will be the last of the boxy Land Rovers that were loved for their cool quotient and rugged appeal. 600 models each will be built of the Heritage and Adventure models while the more exclusive Autobiography will have a limited run of 80 units.
The first of the trio is the Heritage. Unique to this car is it’s availability in only one paint job — Grasmere Green with a white roof, silver bumpers and body-coloured steel wheels. If you missed the heritage paint job, there are badges to remind you, especially a HUE 166 sticker on the front fender which pays tribute to the pre-production Series I Land Rover built in 1947.
On the inside is a mix of retro and luxury bits with aluminium door handles, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake levers. The seats are old-school, wrapped in cloth and vinyl.
The Adventure edition is aimed at buyers who don’t mind getting some dirt on their shoes. Under-body protection and Goodyear MT/R off-road tyres come as standard fitment. In addition, a roof rack, snorkel, rear access ladder and LED projector headlamps add to the adventure quotient.
Colour options are Grey, White and Orange and come with a glossy black painted grille, bonnet, roof and rear door. The interiors are pampered with Windsor leather with contrasting stitching, a leather clad steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake lever.
Rounding off the three is the Land Rover Defender Autobiography. Exclusivity comes in the form of a limited run of just 80 units. There is a 28bhp boost in power and torque also goes up over the other models. The Autobiography adds side steps, a metal fuel filler cap and glossy black body details.
On the inside, the Windsor leather interiors are embossed with the Autobiography logo. A two-tone paintjob is offered as option as are privacy glass and Autobiography badging.
In an interesting twist, Land Rover is entertaining the possibility of continuing production of the current Defender overseas, after closing its UK production facility in December 2015. This means the old-school boxy version may be sold alongside the new model, albeit in small numbers.
