Land Rover is celebrating the James Bond franchise’s 60th anniversary even though highlighting the Defender’s off-road prowess. It created a a person-off Defender 90 with a 007-influenced livery for Mark Higgins to generate during the North Wales leg of the 2022 Bowler Defender Obstacle.
Copying 1 of the SUVs that have starred in James Bond flicks more than the earlier 6 a long time would have been significantly far too straightforward. Instead, the British organization gave the Defender 90 a one particular-of-a-form seem characterised by black paint and gold graphics. The sides and the roof attribute a commemorative “007 60” logo, even though the names of the several James Bond films look on the hood and on the rear doorway.
Graphics aside, the Defender is identical to the models that are modified by Bowler to participate in the manufacturing unit-backed a single-make race sequence. It gains 18-inch wheels, a redesigned suspension program, modified subframes, a snorkel, further cooling, a whole roll cage, and racing harnesses, amongst other upgrades. Electrical power will come from a turbocharged, 2.-liter four-cylinder motor known as P300 in Land Rover-speak and tuned to provide 300 horsepower and 295 pound-ft of torque. It spins the four wheels by means of an 8-pace automated transmission.
Higgins was the organic choice when the time came to discover a pilot. Born on the Isle of Male, which is house to one of the greatest and most challenging bike races in the planet, he competed in the Entire world Rally Championship (WRC) concerning 1990 and 2013 and won the British Rally Championship a few times. He has also labored as a stunt driver in 4 James Bond flicks: “Quantum of Solace” (2008), “Skyfall” (2012), “Spectre” (2015) and “No Time to Die” (2021). Land Rover’s off-roaders have performed significant roles in quite a few James Bond films.
Land Rover’s commemorative Defender will make its competitiveness debut this Saturday, March 26.