Defender

Make
Land Rover
Segment
SUV

Everyone loves a classic Land Rover. These cars have proved to be some of the most capable (and sometimes reliable) off-roaders around, and vintage Land Rover Defenders are selling for big money these days. Land Rover loves to celebrate the heritage of the Defender and its motorsport career, and this limited-edition expedition-inspired Classic Defender Works V8 Trophy II is one of the coolest tributes we've seen.

Land Rover Classic is paying tribute to the legacy of global Land Rover expeditions by offering an exclusive run of 25 of these clearly-not-discontinued vehicles finished with a badass exterior design. What's the bet that Land Rover will continue to resurrect this shape well into the EV age?

Land Rover's legacy spans seven decades, and in that time, its off-road vehicles have traveled the length and breadth of our planet. To celebrate the brand's conquests, Land Rover has styled each of these limited editions, not unlike a previous special edition, with a unique camouflage representing 23 locations. These locations include far-flung destinations featured in the Camel Trophy, The First Overland, and the G4 Challenge. As a fun little added bonus, each Defender also features a couple of hidden Land Rover models.

These graphics are laid over a fresh coat of Fuji White paint, with a Narvik Black roof providing some contrast. A set of Gloss Black 18-inch Sawtooth alloy wheels complete the theme. To help improve off-road ability, each of these vehicles comes fitted with a protective A-frame at the front with an integrated winch and bespoke front grille. The black hood reduces glare, and a full-width LED light bar provides light in the darkest of hours. Rock sliders provide some underbody protection, and the rear ladder step and recovery hooks look real sweet.

These special Defenders are based on completely refurbished and handbuilt Defender models from 2012-2016 and are powered by Land Rover's 5.0-liter V8 petrol engine, producing 400 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Under the skin, these Landys also feature upgraded suspension and brakes and boast a wading depth of 20 inches. Both the 90 and 110 body styles will be offered, and five of the sought-after 110 double cabs will be offered to the public.

The interiors of these special Defenders display Recaro CS sport seats upholstered in high-quality black and white Windsor leather, with leather trim extending to the dashboard, headliner, and doors. Tech includes a modern infotainment system with navigation and automatic climate control.

"The Defender has conquered terrains across the world," says Michael van der Sande, managing director, Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations. "Our latest Classic Works V8 Trophy II honors this expedition heritage in its unique exterior design, paying homage to some of these stunning locations. Each of the 25 vehicles available is a labor of love, sourced, assembled, and remastered by our passionate specialist team. As well as taking delivery of a highly collectible vehicle, our owners will have the unique opportunity to put theirs to the ultimate test in a bespoke Land Rover Trophy event."

We'd love an invite but won't make it there on our own steam. These special off-road machines are available for purchase directly from Land Rover Classic, with prices starting from £225,000 ($273,799) for a Defender 90 in the UK.