One of the three Land Rover Defenders for the Year of Defender Celebration Series:

Adventure Edition

The Defender has helped to establish Land Rover’s credentials as the expedition vehicle of choice and the Adventure Edition is designed for customers who want to explore.

To enhance the Defender’s already impressive off-road credentials, the Adventure Edition features distinctive new underbody protection for the side sills and engine sump, while Goodyear MT/R tyres promise to make the most of whatever grip is on offer.

The Adventure Edition comes in choice of three striking metallic colour options, which include Corris Grey, Yulong White and Phoenix Orange. All feature contrasting Santorini Black paint for the Adventure grille and its surround, the bonnet, roof and rear door, plus the headlamp surrounds and wheel arches.

Seven-inch LED projector headlamps, clear front indicators and Gloss Black split-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels also distinguish the expedition-inspired model. The front wings feature 90 and 110 decals.

The focus is firmly on comfort inside, where the Adventure Edition promises to provide high quality shelter from the elements. Premium seats with Windsor Leather upholstery available in four different colourways, perforated leather inserts and contrast stitching all add a touch of luxury. They are complemented by the leather-trimmed steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake lever and Bright Aluminium interior trim.

High quality Windsor Leather also features on the passenger facia and instrument panel while leather trim on the doors and grab handles, Ebony headlining and bespoke carpet mats complete the look.

Summary

Indicative pricing: From £38,400 (€45,900)

On sale: from August 2015

Bodystyles: 90 Hard Top, 90 Station Wagon, 100 Utility Wagon, 110 Station Wagon

Key features:

• Corris Grey, Yulong White or Phoenix Orange paintwork
• Santorini Black ‘Adventure’ grille, wheel arches, bonnet, roof, and rear door
• Seven-inch LED projector headlamps
• Clear indicator lenses
• Underbody sill and sump protectors
• Atlas ‘Defender’ bonnet script
• Gloss Black split-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels
• Goodyear MT/R tyres with white lettering
• Bright Pack
• Decals on front wings
• Windsor Leather upholstery
• Windsor Leather front passenger facia
• Leather trimmed door panels
• Bright Aluminium finish clock and air vent bezels
• Aluminium interior door handles and door locks
• Bright finish and rubber pedals
• Santorini Black centre console
• Fully wrapped leather steering wheel
• Perforated leather gear knobs, handbrake lever and grab handles
• Ebony Alston headlining
• Heritage logo carpet floor mats

I never got around to posting this when it was announced back in January, I’ll break it up over a few posts.  It’s sad to see it go but they really put some great thought for its drive into the sunset, if only they could have gotten some surprise US import exemption…

LAND ROVER LAUNCHES A YEAR OF DEFENDER CELEBRATIONS WITH GIANT 1KM SAND DRAWING AND TRIO OF LIMITED EDITIONS

· World’s most iconic vehicle drawn on huge 1km scale on the same beach used to sketch the original design 68 years ago

· Heritage, Adventure and Autobiography Limited Edition Defenders announced

· Solihull production of current Defender due to end in December 2015

Whitley, UK, January 7 2015 – Land Rover has gone back to the place where it all began to start a year-long celebration of the iconic Defender. A unique 1km sand drawing at Red Wharf Bay in Anglesey, UK, marks the launch of three exclusive limited edition models and the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the Defender story.

As UK production of the current Defender enters its final phase, Land Rover will use 2015 to celebrate its global automotive icon.

Land Rover Vehicle Line Director Nick Rogers explains the significance of recreating one of the world’s most iconic vehicles: “Passion and enthusiasm surround everything we do with Defender, and that will never change. With a history stretching back 68 years, this is a Land Rover that has thrived for decades on its unquestionable capability and iconic shape. I now have the honour of being one of the many enthusiasts at Land Rover committed to creating a fitting successor to the legendary Defender.”

To mark the announcement Land Rover has created the largest sand drawing ever produced in the UK. A Defender outline measuring a staggering 1km across was drawn on the beach at Red Wharf Bay in Anglesey using a fleet of six Land Rovers. The unique image is a tribute to the moment in 1947 when the engineering director of Rover, Maurice Wilks, first sketched the shape for the original Land Rover in the sand of Red Wharf Bay and proposed the idea to his brother Spencer, Rover’s managing director.

“My father met his brother on the beach at Red Wharf Bay and made a drawing in the sand of how he thought the Land Rover could be made,” said Stephen Wilks, son of Maurice. “That was the start of it all, the conception of Land Rover.”

The Wilks family owned land on the Welsh island and Maurice wanted a versatile vehicle that could double as a light tractor and off-roader. His forward-thinking design was christened the ‘Land Rover’, the outline of which we now recognise as the Defender.

Creating the giant piece of temporary artwork at Red Wharf Bay required a fleet of six Land Rovers, each towing an agricultural 12-foot harrow to draw the unmistakable outline of the Defender in the sand. The vehicles chosen for the race against the Anglesey tides chart the evolution of the Defender from its introduction in 1948 to the present day.

A Land Rover Series I, II and III were joined on the beach by a Ninety from the Eighties, a Defender 90 Hard Top and a Defender 110 Station Wagon. The immaculate Series II once belonged to the Wilks family and in memory of the moment originally enacted by their fathers, cousins Stephen and Nick Wilks, the sons of Maurice and Spencer Wilks respectively, were on hand to take part. They helped to draw the continuous 4.52km line – the length of 1,118 Defender 90 Station Wagons – into the sand with just minutes to spare before it was erased by the incoming tide.

The event witnessed the debut of the Defender Celebration Series; three exciting new limited edition models which each celebrate a different element of Defender’s unique history. The Heritage, Adventure and Autobiography Editions are all powered by Land Rover’s proven 2.2-litre diesel engine and are available to order now.

Land Rover is also investigating the possibility of maintaining production of the current Defender at an overseas production facility, after the close of UK manufacturing. Any continuation would see low volume production maintained for selected fleets and special vehicle applications for sale outside the EU.

Limited Edition Defenders

The three hotly anticipated limited edition Defender models celebrate a different element of the vehicle’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 three very different interpretations of the Defender to reflect its strength and breadth of character,” said Nick Rogers. “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 exclusive Autobiography Edition promises more performance, luxury and comfort than ever before thanks to its comprehensive equipment list, unique duo-tone paintwork, full Windsor leather upholstery and a power upgrade from 122PS to 150PS. Available in the UK and Europe from April, the Autobiography Edition will be produced exclusively as a 90 Station Wagon and priced from £61,500 (€64,000)*.

The Heritage Edition is inspired by early Land Rover models and mixes nostalgic design cues with modern creature comforts. It will be available in global markets and is identified by distinctive Grasmere Green paintwork and a contrasting white roof. A heritage grille and HUE 166 graphics, recalling the registration plate of the first ever pre-production Land Rover nicknamed ‘Huey’, also identify the Heritage model. It hits showrooms from August priced from £30,900 (€39,900)*.

The exciting new Adventure Edition also arrives in dealerships from August. The Adventure Edition will be available in global markets and is aimed at Land Rover customers who relish the great outdoors and embrace the Defender’s ‘go anywhere, do anything’ attitude. It comes fitted with additional underbody protection and Goodyear MT/R tyres to boost the Defender’s already class-leading all-terrain capability. Unique decals and a leather-trimmed cabin ensure the Adventure Edition stands out from the Defender crowd. The Adventure Edition is priced from £38,400 (€45,900)*.

Very interesting find!  It could be someone actually ordered their own SVO special or this could be one of the special editions that have been mentioned recently.

Spotted @LandRover @LandRoverUSA #lwb #svo badged #rangerover today. Note the two tone paintwork & quad tailpipes! pic.twitter.com/h4ILfGTWpO

— Simon Gregg (@thesimongregg) February 1, 2015

Here’s the badge from the Range Rover Sport SVR, the SV part does look like it could be the same as from the pic in the tweet:

Added 2/3/15:

Added 2/10/15:

Land Rover released a large amount of info for the final year of Defender production.  I’ll be posting all the info over the next few days.  But to start, the collection of images from the assembly line at the original factory in Solihull.

Starting with these two pictures showing the two parts that never changed after 60+ years.  On the left you’ll see the 2014 part, not yet painted.  And on the right, the part on my 1971 Land Rover Series IIA.

Montreal International Auto Show (MIAS), 15th January: Land Rover revealed the final piece of its ‘Inspired by Britain’ jigsaw at the Montreal Auto Show, Canada. The Evoque NW8 is the third in a series of special edition models inspired by iconic British landmarks.

The Range Rover Evoque NW8 takes its inspiration from the postcode in North West London, UK, that has been at the heart of the city’s creative scene since the Sixties and is home to the world famous Abbey Road. It is based on the Dynamic model and complements the existing SW1 Monochrome and SW1 Colour special editions.

Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer, Gerry McGovern, said: "Our customers love to personalise their vehicles to reflect their own characters and the Evoque NW8 provides another opportunity for them to make a statement. Its bold combination of colours makes it the most individual of our ‘Inspired by Britain’ special editions."

The exterior of the NW8 is exclusively available in Fuji White paintwork with a unique Firenze Red Contrast Roof and matching red door mirror caps. The Range Rover lettering on the bonnet and tailgate is given the eye-catching red treatment while the 20-inch alloys are finished in Narvik Black (20-inch six-spoke alloys with Vibration Polished finish for US market).

Darkened headlights and foglamps, clear rear lights and the Santorini Black wing vents and grille all highlight the Evoque’s confident stance, while the NW8 is also distinguished by black rather than silver finished bumper inserts.

Customers get an equally distinctive interior with a choice of Taurus leather Ebony seats with Pimento perforated inserts or Ebony seats with perforated Ebony inserts. Additional highlights include unique embroidered headrests and an Anodised Red rotary Driver Selector with matching CommandShift gearshift paddles or, on manual models, a white gearlever insert with red graphics.

A unique Evoque graphic sets the NW8 apart from its special edition stablemates. The distinctive motif is inspired by the iconic Abbey Road zebra crossing and adorns the treadplates, seat tags and key fob. Its design celebrates the history of Evoque showcasing the original 2008 LRX Concept, Evoque five-door, Evoque Coupe and 2012 Evoque Convertible Concept.

Exclusivity is guaranteed with only 1,000 examples of the special edition NW8 set to be produced.