Wednesday 7th January 2015

Land Rover launches Defender Celebration Series

Current Defender production signed off with Heritage, Autobiography and Adventure limited editions

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Land Rover is terribly polite about the upcoming demise of the Defender: "As UK production of the current Defender enters its final phase, Land Rover will use 2015 to celebrate is global automotive icon." After nearly seven decades the Defender as we know it will be no more. It will be a sad farewell for anyone who has had any involvement with the iconic 4x4, even despite good prior knowledge of its passing. The momentous occasion is being marked by the Celebration Series Defenders, three models representing "a different element of Defender's unique history."

Now this is a Defender!

We'll start with our favourite one - the Heritage. As that name implies its the retro themed Defender, painted Grasmere Green with an Alaska White roof. The nostalgic additions don't end there either with the heritage grille and headlamp surrounds, heavy-duty steel wheels, silver bumpers and body coloured mud flaps. It's just how you picture a Defender, isn't it?

Land Rover will build 400 Heritage Editions, available in both 90 and 110 bodystyles. It's on sale from August at £27,800. Lovely.

If the Heritage represents the old of Land Rover then the Autobiography very much represents the new. It costs £61,845 for a start... Limited to just 80 units in 90 Station Wagon format, Land Rover describes the Autobiography as "the most desirable Defender ever produced." To that end there is a full Windsor leather interior, a smattering of aluminium highlights inside and out plus other trinkets like 'Sawtooth' alloy wheels and Autobiography badges. To be honest it looks rather expensive, even with the engine upgrade to 150hp and 295lb ft (from 122hp and 266lb ft).

This rather more in the new Land Rover style

The Defender Adventure makes do with the standard outputs but is usefully cheaper than the Autobiography (£43,495) and is ostensibly rather more in keeping with the Defender utilitarian roots. See the snorkel and rear access ladder for example.

As well as the Phoenix Orange paint seen here, Corris Grey and Yulong White are available. The Adventure is available as both a 90 and 110 Station Wagon but for some reason the the 90 does get the power upgrade found in the Autobiography.

The Adventure's interior is said "to provide high quality shelter" from the elements. The Windsor leather is there again with 'Ebony Alston' headlining and a 'Bright Aluminium finish clock'. Hmm. Outside there are Goodyear MT/R tyres, a sump guard, sill protectors and an 'Expedition Roof Rack' to help the 4x4 credentials. The 600 Adventure models will go on sale in August with the Autobiography and Heritage.

And finally, because this wouldn't be a JLR launch without some song and dance, there's this little video. How better to mark the end of this Defender's life than returning to where it all began? So with a half a dozen Defenders at Red Wharf Bay the largest ever sand drawing (with help from a real sand artist) was produced. Then washed away a few moments later. Still, it's a nice vid.

See here.

 

[Veeayt]

Love the Heritage. Others are plain.

[banana]

There should be a public inquiry into the demise of this British Legend....LR Board members you should bow your heads in shame. Probably too busy signing off the pending Landrover Liposuction Clinics and handbag range.

[skyrover]

Heritage looks great. Nice grill.

Love how the traditional steel wheels have been banded to fit the modern tyre size.

[DickP]

The Heritage is pretty cool with its homage to the early S1 in appearance I think.

[sagarich]

The Heritage looks lovely!

[DickP]

banana said:

There should be a public inquiry into the demise of this British Legend....LR Board members you should bow your heads in shame. Probably too busy signing off the pending Landrover Liposuction Clinics and handbag range.

It's also a very very old design even if you take what is called the Defender. Having not driven one for a while to then have a play about with a twelve month old SW 110, I was somewhat surprised they manage to sell any at all currently...

[Ashley1111]

banana said:

There should be a public inquiry into the demise of this British Legend....LR Board members you should bow your heads in shame. Probably too busy signing off the pending Landrover Liposuction Clinics and handbag range.

You can thank upcoming changes to EU emmission regulations for the demise. Not a decision made by Land Rover.

[skyrover]

DickP said:

banana said:

There should be a public inquiry into the demise of this British Legend....LR Board members you should bow your heads in shame. Probably too busy signing off the pending Landrover Liposuction Clinics and handbag range.

It's also a very very old design even if you take what is called the Defender. Having not driven one for a while to then have a play about with a twelve month old SW 110, I was somewhat surprised they manage to sell any at all currently...

It sell's because it offers capability, or combinations of capability that nothing else on the market can provide.

[Krikkit]

Ashley1111 said:

banana said:

There should be a public inquiry into the demise of this British Legend....LR Board members you should bow your heads in shame. Probably too busy signing off the pending Landrover Liposuction Clinics and handbag range.

You can thank upcoming changes to EU emmission regulations for the demise. Not a decision made by Land Rover.

Not just emissions, but safety and design regulation as well iirc. I'm sure they spent a decent amount of time trying to see if the defender could be modernised to pass, they wouldn't spent a half a billion quid on the replacement otherwise!

[Triumph Man]

Ashley1111 said:

banana said:

There should be a public inquiry into the demise of this British Legend....LR Board members you should bow your heads in shame. Probably too busy signing off the pending Landrover Liposuction Clinics and handbag range.

You can thank upcoming changes to EU emmission regulations for the demise. Not a decision made by Land Rover.

Surely if it's emissions, there is some engine that JLR make that could work?

[skyrover]

Triumph Man said:

Ashley1111 said:

banana said:

There should be a public inquiry into the demise of this British Legend....LR Board members you should bow your heads in shame. Probably too busy signing off the pending Landrover Liposuction Clinics and handbag range.

You can thank upcoming changes to EU emmission regulations for the demise. Not a decision made by Land Rover.

Surely if it's emissions, there is some engine that JLR make that could work?

It's a combination of emission's (doubtful), pedestrian safety standards, driver and passenger safety standard (no air-bags) and the fact that marketshare is being eroded by increasingly capable competitors.

The Defender also has terrible ergonomic and reliability issues that need fixed.

The fundamental premise is spot on (ladders chassis, twin live axles, modular construction)

[DonkeyApple]

skyrover said:

DickP said:

banana said:

There should be a public inquiry into the demise of this British Legend....LR Board members you should bow your heads in shame. Probably too busy signing off the pending Landrover Liposuction Clinics and handbag range.

It's also a very very old design even if you take what is called the Defender. Having not driven one for a while to then have a play about with a twelve month old SW 110, I was somewhat surprised they manage to sell any at all currently...

It sell's because it offers capability, or combinations of capability that nothing else on the market can provide.

Majority of sales post demise of Govt contracts have been to prestige businesses such as upmarket tourism etc and to city dwellers. It sold because it was iconic, much loved, and has such wonderful heritage. Those were the 'capabilities'.

But those buyers will still be able to go out and buy a Defender long after JLR have stopped making them because there will be plenty of firms who will build them from scratch on old chassis etc if the demand is there.

[dukebox9reg]

skyrover said:

Triumph Man said:

Ashley1111 said:

banana said:

There should be a public inquiry into the demise of this British Legend....LR Board members you should bow your heads in shame. Probably too busy signing off the pending Landrover Liposuction Clinics and handbag range.

You can thank upcoming changes to EU emmission regulations for the demise. Not a decision made by Land Rover.

Surely if it's emissions, there is some engine that JLR make that could work?

It's a combination of emission's (doubtful), pedestrian safety standards, driver and passenger safety standard (no air-bags) and the fact that marketshare is being eroded by increasingly capable competitors.

The Defender also has terrible ergonomic and reliability issues that need fixed.

The fundamental premise is spot on (ladders chassis, twin live axles, modular construction)

Exactly, they should be applauded for keeping it around for so long for the amount of hoops they have had to jump through to keep making it legal.

[mwstewart]

The Heritage seems an utter bargain at £27k.

[David87]

Love this. I'll be shortly phoning the LR dealer to get a Heritage.

[banana]

Rumour is that on the basis that after the Defender goes 99% of all LR vehicles will never rove over the land they are looking to rename the company.

Following extensive market research from people with thick rimmed glasses and power point slide the following are front runners, get your votes in

Kerb Tuffies
Sneer Trucks
Mobile Butlers

[skyrover]

banana said:

Rumour is that on the basis that after the Defender goes 99% of all LR vehicles will never rove over the land they are looking to rename the company.

Following extensive market research from people with thick rimmed glasses and power point slide the following are front runners, get your votes in

Kerb Tuffies
Sneer Trucks
Mobile Butlers

I prefer "Mall Roamer"

[DonkeyApple]

mwstewart said:

The Heritage seems an utter bargain at £27k.

It does but you do end up with a Defender that you're then very reluctant to use as a Defender. My favorite of the three by far though.

2015. The anniversary of Agincourt and the end of French rule in England, yet also the end of quite an important British era as the Landie is the last British car with genuine roots in a completely different world.

[powerstroke]

skyrover said:

DickP said:

banana said:

There should be a public inquiry into the demise of this British Legend....LR Board members you should bow your heads in shame. Probably too busy signing off the pending Landrover Liposuction Clinics and handbag range.

It's also a very very old design even if you take what is called the Defender. Having not driven one for a while to then have a play about with a twelve month old SW 110, I was somewhat surprised they manage to sell any at all currently...

It sell's because it offers capability, or combinations of capability that nothing else on the UK market can provide.

It was always a poor copy of a Jeep, hopefully the replacement will be substance over marketing and brand loyalty, current defender right design spoiled by poor quality which is fine if you want a 4x4 but not if you need one!!!

[powerstroke]

DonkeyApple said:

mwstewart said:

The Heritage seems an utter bargain at £27k.

It does but you do end up with a Defender that you're then very reluctant to use as a Defender. My favorite of the three by far though.

2015. The anniversary of Agincourt and the end of French rule in England, yet also the end of quite an important British era as the Landie is the last British car with genuine roots in a completely different world.

Yes !!!the new world