Land Rover Defender : Final year of production kicks off with special edition twins

Land Rover vehicle line director Nick Rogers says the two special edition Defenders were created to each celebrate a different element of the iconic off-roader’s versatile character.

“We wanted to mark the end of Defender production at Solihull with a special edition but coming up with a single identity was impossible, so we developed two very different interpretations of the Defender to reflect its strength and breadth of character,” Rogers said.

“Whether our customers want to celebrate Land Rover's unrivalled off-road heritage, demand the ultimate in terms of design and performance or have a genuine thirst for adventure, there will be a limited edition Defender that will be fit for purpose.”

The Land Rover Defender Adventure and Heritage models will both reach Australian showrooms in November in 90 and 110 station wagon body styles. Pricing will be announced in the second quarter of the year.

The Adventure variant is aimed at enthusiasts who embrace the Defender’s ‘go anywhere’ attitude.

Limited to 2277 units globally, the Adventure gets distinctive new underbody protection for the side sills and engine sump, Goodyear MT/R tyres, LED projector headlamps, gloss black alloy wheels, three striking metallic paint options including Phoenix Orange pictured here, and contrasting Santorini Black grille and surround, bonnet, roof, rear door, headlamp surrounds and wheel arches.

With a focus on comfort, the Adventure gets premium seats with Windsor leather upholstery, white leather door inserts and grab handles, contrast stitching, dark headlining, Bright Aluminium trim and unique carpet mats.

The Heritage variant is a modern interpretation of the first pre-production Series I Land Rover from 1947, and will be capped at 2654 units.

Grasmere Green body panels and an Alaska White roof, and heritage-style grille, headlamp surrounds and heavy-duty steel wheels will appeal to traditionalists, while the silver front bumper with black end caps, clear indicator lenses and Indus Silver door hinges also evoke feelings of nostalgia.

Heritage-style badging on the grille and rear end is inspired by the designed fitted to the Series I and II models, while HUE 166 graphics that recall the registration plate of the first pre-production model adorn the front wing panels.

The cabin gets a perforated leather steering wheel rim and gear lever, Almond Resolve cloth seats with Heritage logos and HUE 166 tags, Bright Aluminium trim highlights, a padded cubby box between the front seats, and rubber floor mats.

Land Rover has also kicked off the current Defender’s end of production celebrations by drawing a 1km sketch of the off-roader in the sand at Red Wharf Bay in Anglesey, UK, paying tribute to the moment in 1947 when Maurice Wilks first created the shape for the original Land Rover on the same beach – albeit on a much more modest scale.

The all-new Land Rover Defender is expected to be unveiled in production form this year, after the British car maker reportedly finalised the car's design in the back half of 2014.

Click the Photos tab for more Land Rover Defender Adventure Edition and Heritage Edition images.