Land Rover has celebrated its 60th anniversary with a special edition of the iconic Defender – the SVX.
The new Landie is a world away from the basic 1948 version, and features custom-designed Recaro seats, a new sound system with subwoofer, iPod cradle and Garmin sat nav.
There are new ‘diamond turned’ five-spoke alloy wheels, a reinforced aluminium front undershield and clear LED rear lights.
With metallic black paintwork and subtle satin black graphic decals, the Defender SVX will be available in both 90 soft-top and 90 station wagon versions.
Other features include tubular side steps and the soft-top models have a metallic silver tubular cage that supports a tailor-made, removable black fabric hood.
Each SVX model for the UK will also come fitted with an individually numbered plaque.
200 SVX vehicles will be made available in the UK in total, made up of 140 two-seat Defender 90 soft-tops and 60 four-seat 90 station wagons.
The engine is the 2.4 litre common-rail diesel, with 122 bhp, but you could always drop a big V8 in the front.
Production starts in spring 2008 and deliveries start next summer.
The SVX was launched last night by Zara Phillips at the British Red Cross Ball in London earlier this evening.
The world's first SVX has been donated by Land Rover UK to the British Red Cross to auction at the ball.
‘The Defender SVX looks very different to a spartan 1948 Land Rover, but it's still an essentially practical vehicle that will enable you to go almost anywhere," said Phil Popham, Land Rover's managing director.
‘The new and much more refined diesel engine introduced earlier this year has been a great success with customers, and for those who want the ultimate Defender, we thought that the SVX special edition would be an ideal way to mark Land Rover's 60th birthday.’
The first ever Land Rover made its public debut on April 30, 1948, at the Amsterdam Motor Show.
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