Land Rover launches Defender Celebration Series

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

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.