Defender

Make
Land Rover
Segment
SUV

For many, there is no greater vehicle than the Land Rover. First previewed at the 1948 Amsterdam Motor Show, the original British off-roader became the de facto go-anywhere vehicle in regions such as Africa and Australia. Since then, the automaker has transformed itself into a premium brand built upon rugged off-road ability.

The new Defender is a fine example of this, and as the now-Tata-owned carmaker enters its 75th year, Land Rover has introduced a special edition model to celebrate the milestone. It's called the 75th Limited Edition, and it sets itself apart from regular models with a host of styling features steeped in heritage - and plenty of modern technology, too. Let's take a look.

The retro-styled SUV wears a rather fetching shade called Grasmere Green. This is the first time the iconic hue has been applied to the Defender, and it will remain the reserve of the 75th Limited Edition models. The color has been extended to the 20-inch wheels, which are wrapped up in chunky all-terrain tires. Additional features include standard privacy glass, a '75 Years' graphic, and Ceres Silver bumpers.

Step inside the rugged yet luxurious interior, and you'll find Grasmere Green trim pieces. Land Rover has powder-coated the Cross Car Beam in the historic color and finished it off with laser-etched '75 Years' detailing. Don't expect any soft, sumptuous leather - the innards have been trimmed with the aptly-named Robustec material, the toughest fabric available for the model.

Based on the high-end HSE grade, the special Defender ships standard with a 3D Surround camera (a godsend when off-roading), a Meridian audio system, LED headlights, a head-up display, and a wireless device charger. What's more, the driver and front passenger enjoy 14-way power-adjustable heated seats (with memory).

The steering wheel is both heated and power-adjustable and, together with the three-zone climate control and towing pack, makes for a practical yet plush driving experience. The best feature, however, has to be the standard folding fabric roof. If you prefer something else, Land Rover will fit a sliding panoramic roof instead.

"Since revealing the new Defender, customers around the globe have fallen in love with it," says Land Rover's Stuart Frith. "This new Limited Edition captures the spirit of the past 75 years, with its color and detail, and fuses it with innovative new technology ..."

The innovative new technology Frith is referring to is the engines. Long-wheelbase 110 models are available with the P400e powertrain, a plug-in hybrid motor not available for the Defender in the US. The mild hybrid D300 Ingenium diesel is also available for the 75th Limited Edition, but in the US, we'll get neither of these. Instead, US-spec 75th Limited Edition models will use the mild-hybrid P400 powertrain with 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. Sadly, there's no mention of the rip-snorting V8 being offered, which is a shame.

US pricing starts at $91,880 for the short-wheelbase 90 version, while the long-wheelbase 110 starts at $94,380. Availability has not yet been confirmed, but we suspect it will be a one-year special rather than a fixed-numbers item.