2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the James Bond film franchise and Land Rover is celebrating by entering a rally-prepared, liveried Defender 90 into the 2022 Bowler Defender Challenge with Mark Higgins competing in the North Wales leg on 26 March.

• 60 years of James Bond: 2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the James Bond film franchise. Dr. No was released on 5th October 1962.
• Rally-ready Defender: A Land Rover Defender 90, with livery inspired by 60 years of James Bond films will be driven by 007 stunt driver Mark Higgins for the North Wales leg of the 2022 Bowler Defender Challenge on 26 March
• Lasting partnership: Land Rovers have featured in famous James Bond scenes for nearly 40 years, from Octopussy in 1983 to the new Defender in No Time To Die*
• Celebratory Defender:  One-off black and gold Defender livery celebrates the 60th anniversary of the franchise
• Teamwork: Three-times British Rally Champions Mark Higgins returns to UK rallying alongside experienced co-driver Claire Williams
• Defender toughness: 300PS Defender 90 features a range of competition enhancements including a fully integrated roll cage, bespoke performance suspension system, additional cooling and racing harnesses

2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the James Bond film franchise and Land Rover is celebrating by entering a rally-prepared, liveried Defender 90 into the 2022 Bowler Defender Challenge with Mark Higgins competing in the North Wales leg on 26 March.

Higgins, a three-times British Rally Champion and Bond stunt driver will make his return to rallying with co-driver Claire Williams on 26 March in North Wales. Higgins has been at the wheel in four James Bond films – Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre and No Time to Die.

The Defender 90 features a trademark black and gold Bond livery. The stealthy looking vehicle also features a special 007 60th logo on its roof and sides.

New Defender features in the latest Bond release No Time To Die so it’s a fitting choice for Higgins, who has put his experience to the test in the previous four Bond films as a stunt driver.

The New Defender is a tough and capable vehicle when it leaves the production line and I’ve seen it perform really challenging stunts while on the set of No Time To Die. With the race ready enhancements made by the Bowler team and with Claire by my side we are confident we can have a great result.

MARK HIGGINS
JAMES BOND STUNT DRIVER AND RALLY CHAMPION

The competition-ready Bond Defender is based on a current Defender 90, powered by the P300 Ingenium powertrain. It features a host of safety modifications, including a full roll cage, enhanced cooling for the engine and transmission, a sports exhaust and new rear roof spoiler.

Other enhancements include strengthened 18-inch Bowler wheels with all-terrain tyres and a bespoke suspension design with modified subframes, new springs and unique turrets for increased stiffness.

To celebrate Land Rover’s long-running association with the Bond franchise, our very own special agent will showcase the durability and all-terrain capability of Defender with a nod to its special appearance in No Time To Die .

FINBAR MCFALL
LAND ROVER BRAND DIRECTOR

Regulated by the Motor Sports Association and operated by Bowler, the 12-team 2022 Bowler Defender Challenge is designed to act as a feeder series for global rally-raid competitions including the annual Dakar rally. Mark and Claire will compete on the gravel surfaces of Rally North Wales in Dolgellau on 26 March.

^{_{Press Release: https://media.landrover.com/news/2022/03/james-bond-stunt-driver-mark-higgins-celebrates-60-years-007-land-rover-defender-rally}}

Come one, come all to the paultan.org Premium Auto Car Expo (PACE) at the Setia City Convention Centre, happening both days of this weekend from 9am to 7pm. Those of you already here may well have seen a large box situated in the middle of the Land Rover booth; it’s this, the three-door Defender 90 that is being concealed within.

First alluded to last year ahead of the five-door version’s launch for the Malaysian market, the relatively more compact bodystyle of the L663-generation Land Rover Defender has been slated to arrive with the same pair of engines as specified for the five-door Defender 110.

These will be the P300 2.0 litre Ingenium four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine rated for 300 PS at 5,500 rpm and 400 Nm of torque from 1,500 rpm to 4,000 rpm, as well as a P400 3.0 litre Ingenium inline-six turbo mild-hybrid petrol with 400 PS at 5,500 rpm and 550 Nm of torque from 2,000 rpm to 5,000 rpm.

Globally, variants available for the Defender 90 include the base, S, SE, HSE and X, as well as a limited First Edition; the X and First Edition variants will be available solely with the 3.0 litre mild-hybrid powertrain. The Defender 110 that was launched in Malaysia last October was made available in the HSE trim for both 2.0L and 3.0L powertrain options.

Based on the example we have managed to photograph through the peep holes of the box, the Defender 90 here is specified closest to the X variant, where its 20-inch Style 5098 five-spoke alloy wheels are of a Dark Satin Grey finish. Also seen here is a black contrast finish for the roof, as well as a full-sized spare wheel.

In X trim, features in the Defender 90 includes electronically controlled air suspension with Adaptive Dynamics, an electronic active differential and Terrain Response 2.

Interior kit for the X trim is comprised of Windsor leather with steelcut premium textile for the 14-way adjustable, heated and cooled memory seats with four-way manual headrests. Infotainment in this spec includes a 700-watt, 14-speaker (plus subwoofer) Meridian surround sound system.

That said, the confirmed specifications for the Defender 90 will be known for sure when it makes its official Malaysian-market debut later this year. In the meantime, come along to the Setia City Convention Centre this weekend, between 9am and 7pm to check out the paultan.org Premium Auto Car Expo; cars, bikes and plenty more await!

_{^{Article Credit: Mick Chan
Full Articles: https://paultan.org/2022/03/19/pace-2022-land-rover-defender-90-at-the-setia-city-convention-centre-malaysian-launch-later-this-year/
Photo Credits: Paultan.org}}

The wheelbase is the same as the 110, but the body is obviously bigger.

Is bigger always better? Land Rover will put that cliche to the test with the forthcoming Defender 130, spied here for just the second time on Motor1.com. The stretched off-roader first hit our radar back in August 2021, and judging by this new image set, little has changed in terms of appearance.

By that, we mean this prototype still wears a black/white camouflage wrap over the outside, but it’s a basic wrap without any obvious faux panels underneath. That’s because we don’t expect the Defender 130 to differ in terms of styling from the 90 or 110, save for more junk in the trunk. In fact, the wheelbase should be identical to the four-door Defender 110. It’s what comes behind the wheelbase that matters most here.

On that front, this test vehicle was caught without an external-mount spare tire on the rear gate, giving us an unobstructed view of the Defender’s chunky backside. It looks like a carbon copy of the shorter 110, right down to the taillight design and the positioning of reflectors in the bumper. The muffler with dual exhaust outlets holds the same position as well, though this particular part doesn’t have the look of a finished, production-spec component. As for the body, it extends several inches beyond the rear wheel wheels to accommodate an extra row of seats.

Exactly how that plays out inside in terms of space is still a mystery. We’ve yet to glimpse the interior so legroom for rearmost passengers in the smallish Defender is unknown. Headroom likely shouldn’t be an issue since the roof stands tall instead of sloping at the rear, but only if the floor isn’t lifted to make space for suspension components. The front half is expected to carry over from other models without changes. The same holds true for engine options.

This prototype was caught in Sweden undergoing cold-weather testing, but we believe there’s quite a bit of testing still to come. Our sources say the three-row Defender won’t lose its camouflage until late in 2022, debuting as a 2023 model.

_{^{Article Credit: Christopher Smith
Full Articles: https://www.motor1.com/news/573417/land-rover-defender-130-spied-three-row/}}

The brilliant modern-day rebirth of an off-roading icon will introduce a whole new generation to the Defender name. 

Upper Large SUVs are the Swiss Army knives of four-wheel drives. They must be comfortable and spacious, capable on-road, practical and well-equipped. That list of expectations satisfies one type of buyer. 

But then there’s a completely different buyer who expects them to be able to tackle any off-road track, tow with competence and efficiency, and be the ultimate outback touring vehicle.

This duality of purpose makes Upper Large SUVs the vehicles with the biggest breadth of capability on the Australian new car market. So it takes an accomplished machine to win the Drive Car of the Year Best Upper Large SUV award.

That’s exactly what the reborn Land Rover Defender is: one of the most accomplished and capable vehicles on sale in Australia today.

We’ve clocked tens of thousands of kilometres testing variations of the new Land Rover Defender on-road and off, and every time we get behind the wheel it impresses us with its consummate blend of quality, refinement and ability.

For most of us, the first time we drive a Defender will be on a sealed road, and you’d scarcely believe that a four-wheel drive of this quality around town would be as capable as it is off-road.

Of course, that’s part of the Land Rover brief. It had to be capable of both roles, without compromise. Even in standard trim, a Land Rover Defender will go a very long way off-road no matter how skilled the driver.

The styling nails the brief. The cabin is exceptional in both its design and execution, and the driving experience from behind the wheel is typically Land Rover. That is, a high seating position, excellent visibility, and powerful, effortless performance.

Between petrol and diesel, short and long wheelbase, there’s a Defender to suit almost any application, whether you intend to cross the continent or simply run around town.

Defender’s pricing spectrum sits it within the range of the Toyota LandCruiser, too, although neither can compete with the Nissan Patrol for outright value stakes. Still, even an entry-level Defender with steel wheels doesn’t feel like a cheap and cheerful proposition.

The ace up the Defender’s sleeve is the sense of luxury and quality it delivers for the driver. We followed the research and development journey for this new model from the beginning, and got the sense that the design and engineering teams knew exactly how serious the job was.

The judges unanimously noted the way the Defender transitions from on-road to off-road without raising a sweat and is capable of tackling anything that you throw at it.

In every sense, the Defender is the quintessential Land Rover – stylish, beautiful to drive on-road, incredibly capable off-road, and just as comfortable in the valet parking at a hideously expensive hotel as it is crossing the Simpson.

_{^{Article Credit: Trent Nikolic
Full Articles: https://www.drive.com.au/news/land-rover-defender-wins-2022-drive-car-of-the-year-best-upper-large-suv/}}

Paint it yellow, and the back half of this 1993 Defender 110 might give you some serious American school bus vibes. Jokes aside, if you’re in the market for a fair priced Land Rover from 29 years ago, then you might just have an opportunity here. This one’s pretty.

Right from the get-go you should know this Defender is not one that sat in a pretty place for all its life. The odometer is showing approximately 75,000 miles (121,000 kilometers), which means it has seen its fair share of the land. After all, that’s why it was made. But this car’s story is the one that captured our interest. It was brought from Poland! It landed on U.S. soil in 2019, was sold in 2021, and the current owner wants a new home for it.

As it seldom is with old cars, people worry about the quality of the service done before and the current state of the vehicle. Fortunately, this owner took proper care of his Defender 110 before putting it up for sale. They replaced a lot of parts like the center muffler or the engine mounts and made sure the dual-range transfer case and the locking center differential were working accordingly. Down below, you’ll even find a cold start video.

This Land Rover was repainted in black and now looks almost like brand new, apart from some tiny flaws. The presence of rust has been noted on the passenger doors and on the driver’s side windshield bracket. You’ll also be happy to know it comes with spare parts, so you won’t have to worry for a while about getting what’s needed. Still, it might need some attention.

Looks continue to impress when you get inside, as the seats have been reupholstered with a very British-like brown leather that presents itself with a delightful quilted aspect. It’s no doubt now that this Defender looks good, even though it didn’t have an easy life. As the seller confirms on BaT, the Carfax report is clean, and the entire service history is available.

Some passionate owners or connoisseurs of the brand might have noticed that the Land Rover badges should be replaced because they’re not correct neither in size nor shape. Mudflaps should also be repositioned. Clearly, it needs some attention. That’s not a dealbreaker, though. These tiny errors can be corrected without much effort.

This version of the Land Rover Defender was initially known as the Land Rover 110 (read as One Ten). It got its current designation at the beginning of the ’90s. As was the case with 4x4s back in the day, this one also drew inspiration from the Willys Jeep that transformed and improved military mobility during World War II. The British, however, added a couple of features that molded this car into a legend. They made it friendlier, easier to live with it, and gave it off-road capabilities that not even today are easily matched by competitors. The electronics might fail sometimes, but the engine, the transmission, and the structural integrity won’t leave you stranded.

It’s no wonder that a vehicle with the Land Rover badge can quickly become an international star. The name is simply one that inspires by its own virtue. This carmaker helps its customers roam the land, not just drive on the road.

There are six days left. The current bid is just $25,000. For now, it’s a catch considering similar models have gone under the hammer for $70,000 or much more. Keep in mind that it needs some extra love to be up to standard.

Article Credit: Florin Amariei
Full Articles: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/beautiful-1993-land-rover-defender-110-is-up-for-grabs-needs-small-repairs-182691.html#