James Bond 007 inspired Defender 90
James Bond 007 franchise is celebrating with a Land Rover Defender Rally!
To mark its 60th anniversary, the James Bond franchise and Land Rover are celebrating with a rally-prepared Defender 90. This will participate in the 2022 Bowler Defender Challenge. Bond stunt driver and a three-time British Rally Champion, Mark Higgins, will man the wheel in the North Wales leg on March 26. He will team up with former deputy team principal of the Williams F1 team, Claire Williams.
“The New Defender is a tough and capable vehicle when it leaves the production line and I’ve seen it perform 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,” Higgins said.
Higgins has worked as a stunt driver in four James Bond films namely Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die.
Defender 90’s off-road prowess
James Bond 007-inspired Defender 90 flaunts a gold and black livery. On its sides and roof is the commemorative 007 60th logo of the car.
From the inside is a P300 Ingenium powertrain. This is an entry-level turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine tuned to perform 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque.
To ensure full performance even on difficult terrain, Bond Defender will ride on 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. It is mated with a modified subframe and springs for increased stiffness.
Interestingly, the Defender 90 is distinct from its grille for the enhanced engine cooling. A spare tire won’t be present from its tailgate. However, other upgrades include a full roll cage, redesigned suspension systems, a snorkel, and racing harnesses.
Land Rover Brand Director, Finbar McFall said, “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.”
James Bond 007 franchise and Land Rover’s long-lasting relationship can be dated back to 1983 with the film “Octopussy”. Since then, Land Rover’s off-roaders played a big role in many James Bond films. This makes it worthy of a commemorative one off-roader set to compete in a global rally-raid competition that will take place across the UK.
Not for a show, but for a challenge.
Did you know that AMENA Academy offers bespoke Automotive training courses for the MENA Region and Around the Globe? Find out more: https://www.amenaauto.me/academy/
All photos used are credit to the owners.